Industry Insight
How The Googleplex Unknowingly Set The Template For Modern Workplace Design
Jon Jones
Commercial Director
SKA Rating – What does it mean?
To an industry outsider, an ‘SKA rating’ could mean anything! It could be a new rock band or grime artist (move over SKEPTA), but in actual fact, it doesn’t belong on your Spotify playlist. Instead, SKA ratings live in the world of sustainable office refurbishments and eco-friendly fit-outs.
So, what exactly is it? And why are more and more businesses (and their landlords) paying attention?
What Is An SKA Rating?
Simply put, an SKA Rating is essentially a grading for your office or retail fit-out, developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). While certifications like BREEAM and LEED cover entire buildings, the SKA certification has a much tighter focus on the interior fit-out – a part which we’re more than familiar with when transforming an empty office shell into a bustling workspace.
The key players in the rating:
_Lighting
_Air-con
_Flooring
_Furniture
_Recycling bins
…essentially, the finishing touches which are tied to the heart of your workspace’s sustainability.
Oh, and as for what the ‘SKA’ stands for… it doesn’t! The name was taken from the contractor who initiated the scheme, who went by ‘Skansen’.
How Does An SKA Rating Work?
The rating is achieved by carrying out certain eco-friendly steps during your office refurbishment, which are then marked against a list of Good Practice Measures (GPMs).
This includes:
_Energy efficiency – Smart lighting and systems that don’t needlessly waste electricity.
_Waste reduction – Recycling old materials.
_Water efficiency – Installing taps that don’t pour out half the Thames every time you wash your hands.
_Sustainable materials – Low-impact paints, timber, and furnishings.
_Wellbeing – Creating a welcoming space that your people actually want to work in.
Once you’ve passed the test and met all of the measureables, you’ll be awarded one of three levels of SKA rating:
Bronze
You’re on the sustainability ladder
Silver
You’ve got a few eco-friendly accolades under your belt
Gold
You’re basically sustainable fit-out royalty
Why Does An SKA Rating Matter?
Of course, an SKA Rating looks great on your company’s CV, but it’s not all for show – it comes with some real benefits:
Above all, it puts your team first. Happy people = productive people. A greener, more natural environment with good air quality, soft lighting, and calming acoustics can help your team feel at home… at work.
Next on the list is the dramatically reduced impact your workspace will have on your budget. Energy-efficient lighting, smart heating systems and water-saving taps can cut down your bills long after the fit-out is done.
And of course, it looks great for your brand. Clients, investors, and employees love seeing companies walk the walk when it comes to sustainability.
The Bottom Line
Now that we’ve cut through the jargon, and you know the importance of SKA Ratings as a credible way to measure the eco-credentials of your office fit-out, you can begin taking steps to achieve yours during your next refurbishment.
When working with us, we’ll discuss your SKA sustainability certification early on, during the planning of your office refurbishment. It’s a lot easier to build sustainability in from the start than to work backwards.
Chameleon’s Gold SKA Rated Project
In 2024, we were proud to announce that our project with the University of Hull was the first education building in the UK to achieve a SKA Gold rating.
Drawing on our partnerships with specialist suppliers and contractors, along with our knowledge and experience of design and materials, we were able to create the first SKA Gold-rated education building in the UK.
Some of the ways we did this were reusing and recycling 80% of carpet and soft floor finishes, 50% of vinyl finishes and 80% of the timber flooring.
