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The Hive Worcester

The Hive will be Worcester's new library and history centre and is now nearing completion with it due to open in July 2012 (note a builder on the roof). At present the area in front of the building is being landscaped, this includes the planting of a number of black pear trees, which is a county emblem. The building's radical design is proving controversial with the residents of Worcester either loving or hating it. Personally I like it though it can be rather dazzling when a low sun is reflected off it. Here is some information about the building:

Environmental assessment - Predicted BREEAM
“Excellent”
Heating – 700kw biomass boiler, local fuel supply
Ventilation - Primarily naturally ventilated
Cooling - River water cooling
Emissions - 50% reduction on Part L2 Building
Regulations, 15.8kg CO2/m2/yr
Water management - Water saving and rainwater
harvesting, mains water consumption reduced by 75%.
Materials - recycled content of the construction (by
value) will be at least 22%.
Climate impact - Building comfort conditions
calculated for predicted weather conditions in the years
2020 and 2050.
Structure - thermal mass of the concrete structure
assists heating and cooling. Concrete has reduced
cement content for a lower environmental impact.
Landscape - soft landscape provides public amenity,
enhances the urban ecology and adds to the buildings
environmental performance.
Contents - 12 miles of archive collections
- A quarter of a million books
- 800 study places
- 10,000m2 of public space

Design Team:
Architects - Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Environmental Engineers - Max Fordham
Structural Engineers - Hyder Consulting
Landscape Architects - Grants

Construction
Galliford Try Construction

Information sourced from the Link leaflet.