Workplace design and fit out specialist Area is celebrating a landmark win at the 2025 Thames Valley Property Awards, where its redevelopment of B100 at Bourne Business Park in Surrey was named Commercial Development of the Year. The project was also recognised as a finalist for Sustainable Development of the Year, cementing its status as one of the UK’s most progressive office retrofits.

B100 has become a benchmark for sustainable refurbishment, demonstrating how retrofit-first strategies can outperform new-build on carbon, performance and commercial viability. Owned by Straits Real Estate and advised by ESR Europe, the 28,000 square foot, three-storey redevelopment prioritised embodied carbon reduction and delivered a series of environmental firsts.

A Sustainability and Performance Standout

B100 has achieved a NABERS UK Design for Performance rating of 5.5, making it one of the country’s highest-rated office refurbishments for energy efficiency. It operates as a fully all-electric building, eliminating reliance on fossil fuels, and is powered in part by a roof-mounted solar array.

The scheme achieved BREEAM Excellent accreditation and a perfect score of 45 out of 45 under the Considerate Constructors Scheme, highlighting exceptional performance not only in design and delivery, but also in social and environmental responsibility during construction.

To support sustainable commuting, the development includes cycle storage, showers and changing facilities, as well as nine electric vehicle charging bays within its 90-space car park. Smart systems including dynamic air conditioning and mixed-mode fresh air circulation balance comfort and energy demand.

Recognition and Industry Validation

The project has also received wider industry recognition:

• Winner – CIBSE Building Simulation Award 2023
  
• Finalist – BREEAM Awards 2025: Best Refurbishment & Fit-Out Project
  
• Finalist – BCO Awards 2025: Projects up to 2,500m²
  

“B100 embodies our belief that the workplace of the future must be both high performing and sustainable,” said Gary Chandler, CEO at Area. “This award is testament to the vision of our team, our client and our partners. It proves that refurbishment can deliver world-class results, reducing carbon impact while creating a workplace that is flexible, inspiring and ready for the future.”

The project team included tp bennett as architect, Savills as M&E engineer and project manager, Gardiner & Theobald as quantity surveyor, and DP Squared as structural engineer, with Element Sustainability as BREEAM assessor and Area providing a dedicated BREEAM Accredited Professional and Sustainability Champion throughout.

About Area

Area is a leading specialist in workplace design and office fit out, creating future-ready workspaces that inspire people and support business success. With offices in London and Windsor, the company has delivered more than 2,500 projects across EMEA over the past 25 years. Its clients include global brands such as Canon, Amazon, LVMH, Vodafone, Lenovo and Adobe.

As a certified B Corp, Area integrates sustainability into every project, incorporating low-carbon solutions, responsibly sourced materials and circular economy principles to help businesses future-proof their work environments.

For more information, visit https://area.co.uk.