One City Park

One City Park in Bradford, England, draws attention with its striking architecture. The building’s curved design and forward-thinking concept create significant interest. For Sheppard Robson Architects, sustainability and the needs of people were paramount in the design. The facade of the complex features 1,700 glassfibre reinforced concrete elements from Rieder, making a distinctive design statement. The sandstone-coloured concrete components serve as both an architectural feature and a key element in creating a sustainable, visionary work environment.

The requirements for the products used were particularly high for this BREEAM-certified project. Photovoltaic panels on the roof provide electricity for the office complex, while air source heat pumps offer resource-efficient heating. Rieder’s three-dimensional facade elements impressed the planners with their aesthetic versatility, as well as technical factors such as their relatively low weight and high environmental and health standards. This makes the material ideal for sustainable building certifications.

Office landmark for Bradford
Spanning over 5,000 square metres, One City Park offers a variety of amenities: excellent transport links, a dedicated bicycle storage with showers, light-filled offices, numerous social spaces, expansive roof terraces, high-ceilinged rooms, and many other features that focus on the needs of the users. It is a place for everyone: start-ups, large companies, retail, and leisure providers. This modern building in the city centre enhances Bradford’s profile as an attractive business location.

Smart and sustainable
The striking facade of glass and sharp-edged concrete reveals the building’s unique character. At the same time, the materiality and calming appearance of the glassfibre reinforced concrete elements allow for a harmonious integration into the surrounding neighbourhood. The 3D elements not only connect visually with the surrounding area but also perform important functional roles. The architects deliberately chose high-performance glazing to maximise natural light entry into the building. The concrete elements also act as a structural sunshade, protecting against temperature fluctuations and reducing unwanted solar gain in the summer. Occupants benefit from unobstructed views combined with effective sun protection. The moisture-resistant material structure and low susceptibility to dirt reduce the need for extensive maintenance and significantly extend the facade’s lifespan. The precise and efficient installation of the elements was facilitated by pre-assembly in the factory and a quality-focused installation on-site. The low weight of the components and their high spans also reduce the need for extensive substructure.

More design possibilities with concrete
Rieder’s formparts are part of a broad range of solutions the Austrian facade specialist offers for building envelopes. The custom-made elements, with their delicate appearance, are tailored to requirements and create a seamless look. formparts enable complex 3D shapes with rounded and sharp-edged corner solutions and are lightweight and easy to handle during installation. Various colours, surfaces, textures, and a wide range of shapes (from C to L to U and custom solutions) and lengths help achieve an optimal facade solution. Facades with demanding geometries and economic benefits can thus be realised effortlessly. Rieder, as a system provider, offers perfectly coordinated components for a comprehensive solution from a single source.

Sheppard Robson