Building a sustainable future at The Pattern Shop

When we set out to create our new home at The Pattern Shop, we wanted more than just a stunning workplace. We wanted a space that reflects Atom’s values: innovative, responsible, and committed to making a positive contribution to our people, community, and planet.

From day one, sustainability has been at the heart of every decision.

Building with purpose

The Pattern Shop carries strong sustainability credentials. It’s rated BREEAM “Very Good” and holds an EPC “B” rating, achievements rooted in both design and operation. We used low VOC paints to improve indoor air quality, built in natural ventilation to improve airflow and installed de-stratification fans to reduce the need for energy-intensive heating and cooling.

Importantly, the building is fully electric! No gas at all. With PV panels and air source heat pumps, we’ve largely decarbonised heating and cooling, making The Pattern Shop a forward-looking, low-carbon workplace.

Smarter energy use

Energy efficiency has been baked into the fundamental design of The Pattern Shop. Across the building, we have used intelligent LED lighting that runs on motion sensors, ensuring no energy is wasted in unused spaces. And, just like we did at our previous home, The Rivergreen Centre, we’re moved to a green energy tariff, so every unit of power we consume is matched by renewable generation.

A responsible fit-out

When it came to transforming The Pattern Shop into Atom’s new HQ, we partnered with Overbury, who are known for their strong green credentials. Their approach to sustainable construction meant we could deliver a space that minimised impact on the planet while celebrating the building’s heritage.

Together, we:

• Achieved a high diversion rate of construction waste away from landfill.
• Retained and reused existing materials wherever possible, reducing embodied carbon.
• Preserved the heritage fabric of the building, avoiding unnecessary demolition and keeping its story alive.
• Specified recycled finishes, including café worktops made from recycled white goods and tea point worktops crafted from recycled yoghurt pots, ensuring sustainability ran right through to the final details.

This careful approach meant less waste, lower emissions and a fit-out process that truly matched our values.

Sustainable by design

Sustainability didn’t stop at the walls, it was integrated into the details too:

• Much of the furniture came with us from The Rivergreen Centre, given a new lease of life in our new home.
• Where new pieces were needed, we specified FSC-certified timber and sustainable finishes.
• Billi taps across the building provide boiling, chilled and ambient filtered water, reducing usage of single-use plastic bottles.
• In the café, there are no disposable cups or cutlery, colleagues are given an Atom mug to use, and all cutlery is washable and reusable.
• To bring nature indoors, we’ve introduced planting that enhances wellbeing, as well as air quality.

A culture of sustainability

The Pattern Shop’s location and facilities also encourage more sustainable choices day-to-day. With Newcastle Central Station just minutes away and on-site cycle storage facilities and showers available, colleagues can choose low-carbon commutes with ease.

We’ve also embedded sustainability into operations by working with partners like Compass Group, who share our values on ethical sourcing, supply chain responsibility, and environmentally friendly cleaning practices.

Looking ahead

For us, sustainability isn’t a one-time effort, it’s an ongoing journey. This office is a key move in our journey to become a climate positive bank from 2035 — a pledge that is one of the most ambitious of any UK bank.

We’re looking to explore opportunities to integrate analytics so we can track energy use and space utilisation, helping us continuously improve. To address any unavoidable emissions, we’ll also continue to invest in projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere, both through our lending and our direct involvement. These projects include natural capital projects, low/zero carbon energy projects, and innovations that help transition to net zero.

For a full picture of our commitment, read more in our latest Sustainability Report. Together, we’re building a climate positive bank for the future.