International architecture firm HOK has been awarded LEED Commercial Interiors Gold certification for its office at the Qube, London.

HOK London said that when developing its office within the Qube it ensured that the recycled content of materials achieved 32% of the total project cost, while regional materials made up 37%. It used FSC-certified timber and received an innovation in design credit for its use of ‘rapidly renewable’ materials such as sheep wool.

Shashi Narayanan, head of sustainable architecture at HOK London said: “Our challenge was to achieve a high LEED rating within normal budgetary constraints for a commercial office interior. By applying the LEED certification to our own office, we have been able to demonstrate that environmentally conscious design can be affordable and achievable in commercial office spaces.”

Equipment used in the project was chosen based on low energy usage requirements, it said, while materials, finishes and furniture with low formaldehyde and VOCs were specified to ensure good indoor air quality.

The HOK London office has also been awarded international environmental management standard ISO 14001, which requires businesses to demonstrate an ongoing reduction in their negative environmental impacts.

The whole Qube development, designed by EPR Architects for developer Derwent London, achieved a BREEAM Very Good rating.

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