Hive has completed its first full design project on site with the University of Oxford after opening its office in 2023, further establishing the team’s presence across the Oxford-Cambridge-London triangle of education. The University’s Project Manager, TMD Building Consultancy, appointed Hive to create and implement an environmental and sustainability strategy for 6 Worcester Street, which will be the new home for a section of the Social Sciences Division and Estates Services.

The appointment took place after the University put out a request for a feasibility study that aligned with its strict environmental and sustainability design guide. The team joined the project during RIBA Stage 2 and worked closely with Estates Services to develop a new and comprehensive brief in support of the University’s wider ambitions to achieve net-zero across its portfolio by 2035.

The requirements of the project were to address challenges, which included outdated and inefficient ventilation systems and suboptimal lighting, and to create a more modern, efficient, and comfortable space for the building’s occupants, which plans to occupy the building.

The team implemented air source heat pumps (ASHP) and ventilation heat recovery to improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort. This system also replaced the gas boiler as a move towards a net-zero solution, and controls were redesigned to be more adaptable and user-friendly.

The team also advised on the replacement of the building’s outdated distribution systems, which had been installed since 1989, further enhancing the building’s efficiency, sustainability, and longevity.

This new energy-efficient space for the University’s Social Sciences Division is part of a broader plan to improve multiple university assets. Hive’s technical expertise in building management systems and environmental sustainability was instrumental in the appointment, and the strategy has helped extend the life of a 1980’s commercial office building for an additional 20 to 30 years.

The approach was founded on both Hive and the University of Oxford’s shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Anthony Mulraney, Director, said: “We built a solid rapport with Oxford Estates Services, the Division, and the project board by listening, understanding what they wanted to achieve, and working with them as partners. Our approach is always pragmatic, offering clear solutions and an honest assessment of what’s needed to improve the building’s environmental performance, and then taking a strategic approach before implementation. We’re pleased to have supported the University on its sustainability journey. The University’s proactive approach to achieving net-zero aligns perfectly with our ethos of reducing carbon emissions and enhancing environmental sustainability.”

Ian Pritchard, Associate Director of TMD, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Hive on the refurbishment of 6 Worcester Street; they were extremely responsive and proactive throughout the entire project, which has helped to deliver it successfully.”