The wasteful nature of Cat A fit out is intuitively understood as a necessary evil within our industry. What remains unclear is the carbon emissions caused by this standard pattern of fit out // rip out. This study seeks to identify and understand the drivers of the current paradigm - which is complex, and with many conflicting incentives - while quantifying the carbon impacts of the current approach for delivering speculative office. The significance of tenant churn is also interrogated as a contributor to whole life building carbon emissions which is missed by existing accounting methods. Conversations with stakeholders involved across the development, marketing, and management of office space have fed into suggestions for possible ways forward. 

We explore potential impacts through the examination of four AHMM case study projects; each providing BCO verifiable Cat A office fit out. Late-stage model information is used to quantify elements within each fit out. This data is analysed with the help of industry standard life cycle assessment software, with upfront carbon emissions calculated for each scenario.