Broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough has today (1 November) officially opened WWF-UK’s new ‘green’ headquarters and learning centre in Woking, Surrey.

The Living Planet Centre – set to open to the public in ‘late November’ ­– has been made from ‘green’ materials and features a learning zone where visitors and schoolchildren can discover more about WWF’s global conservation work.

Around 300 WWF staff are now based at the Woking HQ.

Opening the £20 million building today, Attenborough said:“It’s a fantastic eco-building that shows not only how it’s possible to use our planet’s resources wisely, but also helps us all connect with the natural world and brings WWF’s vital work around the globe to life for us, right here and now.”

The project is mainly being funded through a fundraising Capital Appeal, including a lead gift and donations specifically for the building, together with a loan.

Building details

Designed for WWF-UK by Hopkins Architects and constructed by Willmott Dixon, the 3600m2 building features: photovoltaic panels for solar energy; a rainwater harvesting and recycling system; ground-source heat pumps; and four specially-designed recycled aluminium wind cowls, to provide ‘natural ventilation’.

WWF-UK says that most of the materials used for the centre were recycled (some of the refurbished technology was originally used to power the London 2012 Games), and/or ‘sourced responsibly’ (such as the wood which comes from ‘responsibly managed forests’).

It is hoped the building will achieve an ‘Outstanding’ Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)status for its environmental performance.

‘Aworld with a future where people and nature thrive’

Speaking of the building, CEO of WWF-UK, David Nussbaum, said: “As WWF’s new home, the Living Planet Centre allows us to open our doors and invite visitors of all ages in for the first time ever. I think this will help people really connect with our place in the natural world, and the vital conservation work they help us to fund.

“But our passion for nature has to be matched by a commitment to use the planet’s resources sustainably, and we can now practise what we preach from a building that shows what can be achieved when we are determined. That’s vital as we focus on making real impact in our work – we want a world with a future where people and nature thrive, and we’ve got big ambitions.”

Inside the entrance of the building are four interactive habitat zones showing how WWF is conserving forests, rivers, oceans and wildlife. Each zone has reportedly been designed to ‘evoke the sights, sounds, scents and ambiance of the diverse natural environments, including specially commissioned films and soundtracks’.

WWF will also invite primary school children and teachers to its new ‘Learning Zone’ and wildlife pond to learn about conservation.

Find out more about WWF-UK’s Living Planet Centre.