The façade and soaring open atrium of One Angel Square, the Co-Operative Group building in Manchester, is designed to promote natural heating, cooling and light, supported by low energy LED lighting. Architects Buro Happold and Pharos partner Architainment had a brief to transform this new £100 million development into a 21st century leader in sustainability.
The building consists of many individual spaces of unique character. To ensure that each area is illuminated in the best and most efficient manner an array of lighting approaches are used. In open office areas and in the atrium bespoke raft luminaires are linked to daylight sensors to dim the artificial lighting, while PIR sensors dim lighting levels when employees are not at their desk. Subtle changes in colour temperature are applied at different times of the day to enhance the lower lighting levels of the atrium.
All external lighting is photocell activated with astronomical time-clock over-ride using Pharos LPC controllers. The striking atrium roof structure is feature illuminated using Philips LED colour-changing ColorGraze and ColorBlast fixtures, which are directed to illuminate the roof section directly above.
Shortlisted for the Lighting Design Awards 2014, the construction uses energy efficient, functional lighting without compromising the architectural and interior design aesthetic. Officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in November last year, this modern, flexible working environment is part of an £800 million scheme to redevelop parts of northern Manchester. One Angel Square has been awarded the highest interim score for a commercial building under the BREEAM accreditation scheme.
