Orbis wins international green award

A £9m flagship eco-office and catalyst for the regeneration of Lowestoft's waterfront has received an International Green Apple gold award for energy efficiency. The concept for Orbis Energy, which provides 2800 square metres of office space and ancillary facilities for start-up businesses in the renewable energy industry, was by Feilden+Mawson, with detail design work carried out by Pick Everard.

The five-storey scheme employs comfort cooling and heat recovery, roof mounted wind catchers and an exposed internal concrete structure to minimise temperature fluctuations and energy expenditure. Heating and hot water come from a locally-sourced woodchip biomass boiler and a solar thermal 'tracker' system. The sloping glass facades are protected from solar gain and glare by a lightweight brise soleil.