Buildings

BREEAM is the world's leading sustainability assessment method for new buildings. 

BREEAM does this through third party certification of the assessment of an asset’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance, using standards developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

A BREEAM certified rating reflects the sustainability performance achieved by a project, and ranges from Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent to Outstanding. 

LSE's solar PV panels installed across 14 buildings generate 78,000kWh of electricity per year - that's enough to power the Lakatos Building! In 2018/19 they produced over 123,000 kWh - that’s enough electricity to power 20 Kingsway for a full year. Combined Heat and Power boilers also provide low-carbon heat and electricity simultaneously.

Green roofs and walls bring many benefits such as improved thermal performance for a building, supporting biodiversity, helping cope with excess rainfall, as well as wellbeing benefits. 

• Old Building – Our largest green wall on campus and was even featured on Netflix as part of “Down to Earth” with Zac Efron alongside the LSE Bees. 

• Connaught House – Two Green Roofs, featured in a student research project providing biodiversity. Planters of pollinating plants support the LSE Bees. 

• Centre Building Plaza – Our newest longest green wall, and was made of materials previously used one of our construction sites, an innovative reuse approach!

• Plaza café – This green roof was a collaboration between students and LSE Estates through the Sustainable Futures Society. 

• St Clements West – Green Roof spanning the remaining western section of St Clements behind electricity producing Photovoltaics (PVs).
  

• The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre opened its doors in 2014. Achieved BREEAM 'Outstanding' (Design) status.

• 'A' rated high energy efficiency Energy Performance Certificate.

• Sustainability features and user guides installed on walls. 

• Photovoltaic solar panels on the roof. 

• Green roof plaza area planted up with trees for communal social space.  

• Natural Ventilation with windows on actuators controlled by Building Management System (BMS). 

• Rainwater and greywater harvesting - combined with water efficient toilets and sensor taps. 

• Combined Heat and Power CHPs –Efficient gas powered in Saw Swee Hock, connected to BMS. 

• View this summary fact sheet (pdf) to find out more about the building's features.

• The Centre Buildings Redevelopment was completed in May 2019. 

• Achieved BREEAM 'Excellent' (Design & Construction) 

• Projected to achieve a 'B' Display Energy Certificate rating. 

• Biofuel, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engine, using sustainably sourced fish oil (which would otherwise be classed as waste) as a fuel, to generate heat and power for the building. 

• Green Roof terraces with pollinator supporting plants to create biodiversity corridors towards Lincolns Inn Fields (and wellbeing benefits for students and staff breaks). 

• Maximise natural ventilation where possible (designed so 60% naturally ventilated and only 15% as fully mechanically ventilated; rest mix mode): Chapman BDSP consultants diagram of the natural ventilation: https://www.chapmanbdsp.com/projects/lse-centre-buildings-redevelopment/

• Natural light maximisation and LED to reduce electricity consumption due to lighting.

• Central open staircase to encourage taking stairs rather than lift to lower floors teaching areas (energy saving and socialising wellbeing aspects).

• Key sustainability features.

• Marshall Building at 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields opened in Spring 2022.

• Achieved BREEAM 'Excellent' in Design. 

• On track for BREEAM 'Excellent' in Construction and a 'B' high energy efficiency rating. 

• Shortlisted for the 2019 BREEAM award, 'Best Public Sector (design-stage)' category.  Low Carbon Design using passive features to maintain thermal comfort and reduce heating, cooling and mechanical ventilation and lighting loads.

• Provision of 194 additional cycle spaces with 6 showers and 48 lockers for cyclists. 

• Minimise surface water runoff to reduce flooding, using the roof planters as a Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUD) scheme.

• Designed to minimise the use of portable (drinking) water during construction, and also once building is completed.

• Responsible sourcing of materials using Chain of Custody evidence and certification schemes for timber, cladding, insulation, roof materials etc.