Gold-clad building scores highest ever rating for a public library

Worcester library

The gold-clad Hive building in Worcester has scored the highest ever BREEAM score for a public library with a score of 86.4%.

The £60m building – constructed by a team led by Galliford Try and included architects Feilden Clegg Bradley and consultants Max Fordham, Hyder and Grant Associates – was awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating.

The building’s environmental features include biomass boilers, passive ventilation systems, high levels of daylight, rainwater re-cycling and a river water cooling system linked to the nearby River Severn.

Galliford Try Group Managing Director Ken Gillespie said: “Receiving such a high BREEAM rating for a complicated project like the Hive is a great achievement for all those involved. Galliford Try sets itself high environmental standards and we remain committed to meeting both our own aspirations and those of our clients to help to create an ever more ecologically sound built environment.”