Skanska and its customer Zurich Insurance have hosted a rooftop ceremony together with the pouring of the final area with concrete as they celebrated reaching the highest point of its new sustainable office building.

The building will provide around 100,000 sqft of office space over six floors, with a terrace and a function space at roof level. Skanska has already completed the specialist piling and ground engineering and following completion of construction, will install the mechanical, electrical and public health services, before the building is handed over in the summer of next year.


Sustainable methods being used are set to reduce the carbon in construction emissions by more than 86 per cent.

When the building is finished, occupants will benefit from:

• Energy efficient, low-powered LED lighting throughout the building.

• Water efficient fittings, such as low-flush toilets and aerated spray taps, reducing water consumption.

• Solar controlled glazing, including automatic blinds, helping to maximise the amount of natural light entering the building.

Charlie Norris, Operations Director, commented: "From the beginning Zurich has had high standards for their new workplace and I’m proud we have forged a strong relationship so we can fully understand their needs and meet their expectations.

"By involving our experts experienced in every phase of the project – from specialist piling, through to construction and the mechanical and electrical fit-out, we’ve been able to develop solutions at every stage tailored around their ambition for a futureproof HQ that will offer a high-quality space for their teams to be happy, healthy and productive. When finished, Unity Place will set the standard for sustainable buildings in Swindon."