The Francis Crick Institute will be a sustainable development, with green principles embedded into its design and operation.

To keep carbon dioxide emissions low, the Institute will use an on-site combined heat and power system. Solar panels will be installed in the south-facing roof of the building to provide extra power from a renewable energy source. In addition, extensive use of glass in the design will allow natural light to flood into the building and all light fittings will be energy-efficient.

Photovoltaic solar panels on the building.
© PLP Architecture

Water-efficient fittings will help reduce water consumption. Products and materials will, as far as possible, be specified and sourced to minimise environmental impact and reduce waste.

During construction, the amount of waste generated and exported from the site will be kept to a minimum in line with the requirements of the Considerate Constructors Scheme and the national WRAP initiative.

A specialist ecology team has been advising the project. High-quality landscape areas and brown roofs, which attract wildlife, are part of the building design.

The Institute has excellent public transport links and to further support environmentally friendly travel in central London extensive cycle storage space will be available to staff. There will be no staff car parking facilities on site.

The environmental performance of this scheme is being assessed against the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM). In line with the Institute’s vision to provide highly sustainable research facilities, the scheme intends to achieve a BREEAM rating of 'excellent'.