Ridge is delighted to announce that the new CABI Headquarters in Wallingford has been shortlisted for four awards: Project of the Year, Most Innovative and Sustainable Project and Best Interior for the OxPropFest 2021 Awards, and Project of the Year under £10m for the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards.

Ridge provided Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Planning Consultancy and Quality Monitoring services, working alongside architects Scott Brownrigg to bring to life the low carbon headquarters.

CABI is an International, intergovernmental and not for profit organisation, who improves people’s lives by addressing problems in agriculture and the environment around the world, as such it was vital that passive design principles were fully integrated with minimal impact on the surrounding environment, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This high-profile, landmark development is an outstanding local project providing office space for 180 staff and residential space with low impact/low-carbon design principles, successfully integrated into a bio-diverse landscape, with a living roof, attracting insects and birds and enhance biodiversity.

It was essential for CABI’s goals to achieve the lowest environmental impacts for the 2-storey, 2,500m² HQ. The design was therefore driven with low environmental impact at the forefront. Reducing the energy consumption with ultra-low energy and running costs was fundamental. This drove every aspect of the design from the orientation of the building, to minimise solar gain whilst maximising natural light, and the internal ventilation strategies which promote healthy fresh air, user control whilst minimising energy use. The scheme’s ‘passive design’ strategy takes a ‘fabric first’ approach, the careful orientation and ground hugging building uses a form of self-shading, and the evaporative cooling effects of the living-roof to reduce the requirements for artificial cooling and heating.

“On behalf of my EMT colleagues and all CABI staff worldwide let me thank all of our professional advisers, partners and suppliers for their work in helping us achieve this exciting milestone in CABI’s history. We now have an office that we can truly be proud of which is fitting for an international organisation, visited by guests and staff from around the world. It is truly in keeping with our mission and values to protect the environment and biodiversity whilst also being an impressive local landmark that will put us on the map more visibly in the community”.
Former CABI CEO, Dr Trevor Nicholls

The OxPropFest winners will be announced at the awards ceremony held on Thursday 9th September 2021. Read more about the awards here.

The SECBE Constructing Excellence awards are to be announced on 1st July, at a virtual summit and awards ceremony. Get your free ticket or find out more here

SECBE also has a People’s Choice award, please show your support for the CABI project by placing your vote: Project of the Year