The Lumen ‘lights up’ Newcastle Skyline
Newcastle has welcomed another building to its skyline, The Lumen, a 106,000sq ft Grade A office block located on the ever-growing Newcastle Helix development. The Lumen is part of a £65m investment from Legal & General and officially opened last week, after a postponement due to the current global pandemic.
Desco were delighted to be a member of the design team providing the MEP services design on the new nine storey development providing modern workspace for a number of interested businesses from both the UK and abroad. Not only is the quality of the design and build attracting investors, but also the unique eco-system that fosters collaboration between the public sector, academics, and like-minded businesses. In addition, it has high quality cycle and changing facilities, putting employee wellbeing and sustainability at the heart of its ethos.
The building features a number of innovative and sustainable designs including PV Panels on the roof, low air permeability, low U valves and high-performance plant and equipment, all of which have contributed to the successful achievement of the building obtaining BREEAM Excellent and EPC rating A. The building is also connected to the recently opened District Heating network which provides low carbon emissions for heating and cooling to the future tenants.
The project was carried out collaboratively between the design teams using BIM. Desco designed the M&E services using REVIT 3D and Navisworks.
In the coming weeks, photos and videos will be released of the building, allowing potential occupiers to benefit from a virtual viewing.
Gordon Aitchison, Director of Investment and Development, LGIM Real Assets, said:
“The completion of the Lumen is the accumulation of years of hard work between L&G, Newcastle University and Newcastle City Council, each working towards a common goal of driving economic growth and innovation in the North East. The site is an ideal base for businesses looking to innovate and collaborate, boosting the area as a science and technology hub and offering networking opportunities with the university and across the Helix innovation park. As we have seen over the last few months, businesses in this sector have been crucial to the effort to overcome the pandemic, and in the wake of the lockdown these sectors will inevitably expand exponentially.”
| Client: | Legal and General |
| Architect: | Ryder Architecture |
| Main Contractor: | Sir Robert McAlpine |
| Project manager: | Turner and Townsend |
| Quantity Surveyor: | Turner and Townsend |
| Structural Engineer: | Pell Frischmann |