The Royal Mail Hub and Distribution Centre Northampton was a finalist in the prestigious Estates Gazette Green Awards. The new 212,846 sq ft mail hub and distribution centre built by ProLogis in conjunction with Aviva Investors has recently been completed by main contractor Winvic. The structure employed over 600te of structural steelwork by Caunton Engineering.
The building has impressive green credentials. ProLogis has reduced and offset all the embodied carbon associated with the construction of the building. As a result, the predicted reductions in operational CO2 will provide an immediate and significant environmental benefit - reducing building related CO2 emissions by 77% by 2020 and saving 36,924 tonnes of CO2 over the building’s lifespan.
The project is located in Swan Valley, owned by Aviva, the 210-acre distribution park located next to junction 15A of the M1 motorway, which links London to the Midlands and beyond.
The structural steel framework comprises 110 metre span, symmetrical, propped portals – main span 40 metres with two 35 metre lean-to frameworks. The length of the building is 145 metres in 7 metre frame spacings. Height to eaves is 13 metres and to apex 18 metres. The internal perimeter of the structure is peppered with cantilever/suspended gantries and mezzanine floors. This means that in the main each individual portal frame is unique in its design. Overall the structural form is that of a triple span hit/miss portal arrangement plus a low level lean-to integrating a small office block
Caunton are delighted to be associated with such an exemplary green building and to have played a part in its successful completion. By working closely with Royal Mail, ProLogis and Aviva Investors have procured a building that has been specifically tailored to Royal Mail’s exact business requirements and that will reduce the overall carbon footprint of the distribution hub over its 30-year life span.
"A quality building, fully completed when promised. Well done and thank you."
This ringing endorsement was given by Jon Howard, Programme Manager, Mail Centre Strategy, Royal Mail Group Property