The problem of assessing the sustainability of adapted historic buildings with BREEAM certification using examples in Poland and Great Britain

Figures & data

Figure 1. Sustainability certifications carried out according to BREEAM schemes.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of each BREEAM schemes.

Figure 2. The final result of the New Construction BREEAM certification.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of the final result of the New Construction BREEAM certification.

Figure 3. The final result of the Refurbishment & Fit-Out BREEAM certification.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of the final results of the Refurbishment & Fit-Out BREEAM certification.

Figure 4. The final result of the Refurbishment & Fit-Out BREEAM certification for Polish facilities.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of the final results of the Refurbishment & Fit-Out for Polish facilities.

Table 1. Characteristics of Polish Refurbishment & Fit-out certified facilities.

Name of facility	Certification scheme	City	Year of construction	Year of adaptation	Year of certification	Function before adaptation	Function after adaptation	Certification result (%)	Certification grade	Conservation protection
Calisia One	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015: Refurbishment	Kalisz	Second half of the 19th century	2019	2019	Calisia piano factory	Offices (Other buildings/Mixed use)	34,4	Pass	Register of monuments
PZO Factory	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015	Warsaw	Pre-war period	2021	2020	Optical plant	Offices (Other buildings/Mixed use)	63,1	Very good	No
C1.2 MLP Hall	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015	Wrocław	21st century	2018	2020	Production hall	Production hall (Other buildings/Mixed use)	31,4	Pass	No
JTI GBS Poland sp. z o.o.	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015	Warsaw	1851	2021	2022	Factory, metal industry	Offices (Other buildings/Mixed use)	88	Outstanding	Register of monuments*
Monopolis B3/B4	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015: Refurbishment	Łódź	1902	2018	2020	Building of the former Monopol Wódczany	Offices (Other buildings/Mixed use)	62	Very good	Register of monuments
Novotel Gadansk Marina	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015: Refurbishment	Gdańsk	1985	2010	2021	PP ORBIS hotel	Hotel (Other buildings/Mixed use)	30,9	Pass	No
The Marshall Office: a thermomodernized building	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015: Refurbishment	Szczecin	1911	2022	2019	Marshal’s office	Marshal’s office (Other buildings/Mixed use)	57,2	Very good	No
Warsaw Spire – building A, L37	BREEAM International Refurbishment & Fit-out 2015: Refurbishment	Warsaw	1949	2016	2017	Bellona publishing house	Offices (Other buildings/Mixed use)	64,5	Very good	Register of monuments

Note: *This case will not be included in the analysis of sustainability assessment of the adaptation of historic objects, because the BREEAM International 2015 Refurbishment & Fit-Out certificate was obtained by the company renting the office space, which is a new construction building, and not part of the adaptation of the historic object, which is the Norbin factory.

Table 2. Grades of conservation protection in the UK.

Grade I	Grade II	Grade II*	Conservation Area
Highest level of conservation interest in buildings. This category mainly includes historic residences or important historic buildings. The category contains 2.5% of all listed buildings.	Buildings of special conservation interest. The majority of residential properties are in this category. 91.5% of all listed buildings are in this category.	Sites of greater conservation interest than the GRADE II category. 6% of all listed sites are in this category.	Sites and areas of significant historic or architectural character. This category can include a variety of elements (areas or buildings). Demolitions, extensions and similar treatments are regulated by law.

Table 3. Characteristics of British Refurbishment & Fit-out certified facilities.

Name of facility	Certification scheme	City	Year of construction	Year of adaptation	Year of certification	Function before adaptation	Function after adaptation	Certification result (%)	Certification grade	Conservation protection
Wellington House	Offices 2008	London	1930	2012	2013	Office	Office (Other buildings/Mixed use)	56,55	Very good	Conservation Area
The Stable Block, Morden Hall Park	Bespoke 2008	London	1770	2010	2013	Stable yard	Cultural centre (Other buildings/Mixed use)	71,39	Excellent	Conservation Area
Bombay Sapphire Distillery Process Buildings	Industrial 2008	Whitchurch	1086	2008–2013	2013	Paper mill	Gin distillery (Industrial)	86,81	Outstanding	Conservation Area
Craven Hill Gardens	BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment 2012	London	XIX century	2012	2017	Hotel	Residential area (Residential)	82,5	Excellent	Conservation Area
Somerset House East Wing	Bespoke 2008	London	1801	2008–2012	2012	King’s College London’s strand campus	University (Other buildings/Mixed use)	73,43	Excellent	Grade I
64 Sloane Street	Offices 2008	London	1897	2008–2015	2015	Residential area	Office (Other buildings/Mixed use)	70,6	Excellent	Grade II
Royal Arsenal Office	BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fit Out 2014: Refurbishment	London	XVII century	2014–2019	2019	Ordnance institution	Office (Other buildings/Mixed use)	49,3	Good	Grade II
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation	Higher Education 2008: Higher Education	Edinburg	XVIII century	2008–2015	2015	Royal High School	Research centre (Education)	87,5	Outstanding	Grade II
The Witham, Barnard Castle	Bespoke 2008	Barnard Castle	1846	2008–2014	2014	Culture centre	Cultural centre (Other buildings/Mixed use)	58,8	Very good	Grade II
City of York Council West Offices	Offices 2008	York	1841	2012	2013	Railway station	Office (Other buildings/Mixed use)	71,19	Excellent	Grade II*
Olympia Theatre	Bespoke 2008	Glasgow	1911	2011	2013	Theater	Cultural centre (Other buildings/Mixed use)	71,15	Excellent	Grade II*

Figure 5. Designed functions of selected British certified historic buildings according to the categories of the BREEAM scheme.

Figure 6. The final result of the BREEAM certification of selected British adaptations of historic buildings.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of the final results of British adaptations of historic buildings according to BREEAM scheme.

Figure 7. The final result of the BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out final certification for British facilities.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of final result of British certified historic buildings.

Figure 8. Designed functions of selected British certified historic buildings according to the categories of BREEAM.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of designed functions of British certified historic buildings.

Figure 9. Designed functions of selected British BREEAM-certified historic buildings.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of designed functions of selected British BREEAM-certified historic buildings: offices, production hall, hotels.

Figure 10. Designed functions of Polish Refurbishment & Fit-Out facilities.

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A pie chart showing the percentage of designed functions of Polish Refurbishment & Fit-Out facilities: offices, cultural/recreations centers, academic, residential.

Table 4. Comparison of Polish and British final BREEAM grades and main design solutions.

Name of facility	Grade of conservation protection	Final BREEAM grade	Main design solutions
Calisia One	Monuments register	34,4% (Pass)	Public consultation, material recovery
Monopolis	Monuments register	62% (Very Good)	Moveable walls, indoor and outdoor greenery
Craven Hill Gardens	Conservation Area	82,4% (Excellent)	Active and passive heat systems
Bombay Sapphire Distillery	Conservation Area	86,81% (Outstanding)	Heat recovery system