Zero Three Zero

SPACE has a verified route to net zero through its Science-Based Targets initiative commitments. Since 2018, we have reduced emissions by 48% and reached carbon neutrality for these areas in 2025. This was achieved through lowering consumption at source and offsetting only a minimal residual footprint.  From woodland protection programmes to low-carbon procurement, our practice structure encourages accountability and measurable progress.

We are also committed to cutting embodied and operational carbon across the projects we design and steward, applying regenerative principles and circular thinking as part of our ongoing approach.

For decades, our approach has integrated environmental considerations into projects that deliver clear gains in efficiency and carbon reduction. The results can be seen at Woodham Academy, the first net-zero in operation school in the North East, and the retrofit of Hull’s central fire station into STEAM Studios, which avoided 175,000 kilograms of embodied carbon, the equivalent of driving a petrol car from London to Sydney and back roughly 60 times.

Across heritage work, schools, community buildings, housing, and retail projects, our teams embed flexible layouts, durable materials, and natural systems that support long-term resilience. These choices sit within a design process that encourages clients to set clear sustainability targets and understand what can be achieved within their brief. We measure the results and carry lessons forward so that the knowledge we gain becomes part of the next project.

A dedicated Planet section within each project piece helps translate this, spotlighting the decisions we make from materials through to design intent.

At SPACE, innovation is tied to real behaviour change. Our research partnerships and digital tools help clients and architects from across the industry make informed decisions about carbon. Our Schools Configurator enables stakeholders to test layouts and materials in real time, helping them understand performance, costs, and environmental impact. The D-CARB tool, developed by our Head of Research, Catherine Sinclair, in partnership with Northumbria University and Innovate UK, allows architects to assess whole-life carbon from the earliest stages of design. Its open-access release reflects a deliberate choice; the tool was never created for competitive edge or financial gain, but because the planet needs shared knowledge and collective action to address the climate crisis.

SPACE is an active participant in the B Corp network and contributes to B Local North East. Our governance structure reinforces transparency and ethical practice, while our ISO 14001 certification embeds responsible procurement, low-carbon standards, and strong supply chain relationships.

Our annual climate conference _shift focuses on the urgent task of decarbonising the built environment, aiming to inspire action across the industry. The event is free to attend and brings together architects, product manufacturers, contractors, policymakers, climate activists, and changemakers from across the region and beyond. Every talk is recorded and live-streamed with each presentation, panel discussion, behind-the-scenes interview, and podcast recording, hosted by SPACE Architects’ Jade Atkins, then added to the _shift Archive. The archive now holds over 200 accessible, on-demand videos, acting as a trusted resource for anyone working to reduce emissions.

Our commitment to sustainability is overseen by our directors, who structure their decisions around the ZeroThreeZero framework and review performance annually. Standards, metrics, and actions are shared openly with clients and collaborators. This includes the challenges we encounter as well as the steps we take, ensuring our values remain visible and consistent. Our leadership continues to support research across the practice and creates the conditions for innovation to flourish. This includes the time and resources required to thrive, along with mentoring and hands-on application across live projects.