CityAxis Environmental Policy for our Business, Architecture, Design & Construction

"The objectives of sustainable development establish a new, complex and challenging agenda for architecture. It demands that we no longer externalise the costs of environmental degradation, that we shift away from regarding the environment as something distinct from and outside of what we design and build. Through the imaginative power of architecture we can begin to find ways to design and make buildings that serve and sustain life in the fullest sense and which acknowledge and honour the complexity of our world."
(http://www.scotland.gov.uklarchitecture/exec summary.asp)

Background

CityAxis projects vary from the design, management and construction of Central London offices, specialist medical units, educational developments, residential and affordable housing and occasional new builds. The site types are typically within Greater London. .
Each project has ifs very specific environmental responsibilities and challenges. Our architectural, design and construction services are managed in accordance with our core corporate values of commercialism, integrity and stewardship.

Vision and Commitment

Our company is a collective of professional qualified individuals and construction management, and we aim to continually update and question our knowledge and effectiveness to create buildings and interiors where all relevant environmental issues have been considered. Our aim is to share our knowledge practice wide and with all those we work with and to endeavour to encourage sustainability through our supply and subcontractor base.

Policy

It is our policy to:

  • To operate in an environmentally aware and responsible manner.
  • Ensure that we are knowledgeable and comply with all relevant legislation, other guidance and best practice principles such as;
    • ISO 140O1 Certified
    • BREEAM (BRE's Environmental Assessment Method)
    • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's green building rating system)
    • Carbon Neutral (Offset your carbon dioxide emissions through the carbon neutral scheme)
    • Enhanced Capital Allowances (Government incentive to encourage purchase of energy efficient equipment)
    • FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
    • VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
  • Ensure that environmental impacts are evaluated and managed when developing the scope of a project, initiating research, understanding, options and change.
  • Seek continual improvement in specific activities and operations that have key impacts on the environment.
  • Adopt measures to achieve continual improvement of environmental performance and pollution prevention.
  • Understand, manage and control environmental impacts of our projects as an integral part of our architectural, design and construction.
  • Work with our clients/stakeholders to improve our/their environmental performance and minimise
    environmental impacts.
  • Promote conservation and the use of sustainable natural resources.
  • Promote integrated passive design .
  • Promote solutions which minimise environmental pollution.
  • Promote the consideration of the building's Whole Life Costs, including its design, construction, running and eventual deconstruction, rather than focusing purely on initial design and construction costs.
  • Create healthy and pleasant environments to work/live in.
  • Ensure that our staff and service providers have the appropriate levels of expertise, are aware of our key impacts on the environment, understand their responsibilities and are committed to applying our policies and meeting our specific objectives.

Integrated Design Checklist

Environmental Statement (pdf)