
Sustainability, health and wellbeing are fundamental drivers for the NQCC and have been central to the development of the design for the Centre. NQCC has ensured this is consistent and aligns with UKRI sustainability strategy.

Core to the design of the building, the following principles have enabled the NQCC building design to include specific areas of sustainability:
- Achieving a BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Excellent’
- Following the recognised energy strategy hierarchy of ‘Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green’
- Minimising energy use and CO2 emissions through the incorporation of highly efficient building materials with a focus on lighting and ventilation
- Maximising energy efficiency features and integrating low carbon energy through the use of air source heat pump and photovoltaic panels
- A combustion free development to minimise the impact on local air quality
- Achieving a minimum of 40% reduction in regulated CO2 emissions on-site through renewable and low carbon sources
- Maximising recycling of all construction waste to reduce the carbon footprint.
Source: Hawkins Brown, NQCC RIBA Stage 3 Report, Feb 2021