First Esplanade Quarter Building wins Planning Approval
The first building in the much anticipated Jersey International Finance Centre was approved by the States Minister for Planning and the Environment last week (21 May 2013).
Link to Building Design Article
The design of the building has been developed by MJP Architects and Richard MacCormac, with Eric Parry Architects responsible for the basement infrastructure and access. Richard MacCormac, MacCormac Architect, says:
The building will not only provide much needed premium, column free office space, with light and views to all of its facades, but we also believe it will deliver these with an elegance and finesse equal to the best of the Island's historic buildings
"The genesis of the building has been a special experience of collaboration and exemplary design ideas. The challenge of office buildings as a type, particularly framed buildings, is to develop elevations which convey a sense of volume rather than surface, through depth and materiality"
The building will provide around 67,000 sft of purpose built Grade A office accommodation for the Island's finance industry. Reza Schuster, Director MJP Architects, says:
"We're really pleased to be on the team delivering the first building in this world class new district for Jersey's premier industry. It has an important place in the overall development, forming a link between the new Waterfront and the Historic Town, and sets the standard for future phases"
Column Free Space
The specification of the building is based on Central London standards and will provide tenants with complete flexibility as a result of column free space and the regular shape of the floorplate. Uniquely for St Helier, the layout of the building provides natural light on all four sides. Lee Henry CEO of the States of Jersey Development Company, says:
Its distinctive appearance and efficient layout, together with its progressive, flexible and sustainable environmental strategy, sets a new standard for development in Jersey
"The building will not only provide much needed premium, column free office space, with light and views to all of its facades, but we also believe it will deliver these with an elegance and finesse equal to the best of the Island's historic buildings. Its distinctive appearance and efficient layout, together with its progressive, flexible and sustainable environmental strategy, sets a new standard for development in Jersey"
It will be the first building in the Channel Islands to target a BREEAM Excellent environmental rating. SBEM modelling has demonstrated that its performance will be 19% better than the minimum requirement of Jersey Building Bye-Law Part 11 2A 2007 and Watermans, the building's engineers, predict that it will achieve at least a 20% reduction in energy through the use of low or zero carbon technologies.