Refurb Projects - November 2018

PROJECT
Old Meets New
Toby Buckley, managing director of REL Building
Services discusses the challenges of designing and
installing M&E services in heritage buildings.
Heritage assets have a huge
role to play in regeneration
but can result in many
construction challenges,
especially for mechanical and
electrical (M&E) contractors.
Implementing modern services into
an historic building, especially one
that is listed, is challenging both in
terms of design and installation.
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
The recent restoration and extension
of a Grade II listed Georgian town
hall in St Albans city centre
highlights the complexities of M&E
work in the heritage sector. Located
in a conservation area, the historic
building has been transformed into
a new museum and art gallery by
main contractor Willmott Dixon.
Spanning three floors, the work
has seen the ground floor’s entrance
halls turned into a reception area
and exhibition space. The former
Victorian courtroom has been fully
restored and on the first floor, the
assembly rooms have been
refurbished for events. A new
temperature-controlled and secure
lower ground floor gallery has also
been created under the building.
BOLD INTERVENTION
Designed by architects John McAslan
+ Partners, the ambitious project
included the need for a complex
building services solution that would
significantly improve energy
efficiency and future maintenance.
The solution also had to meet
specific demands in line with its
future use, including carefully
controlled temperature and humidity
to protect the works of art and local
historic artefacts, which would be
on display.
Our role evolved from consultant
to designer as we could offer the
specialist skills and experience
required to deliver the brief. This
saw us work with various
stakeholders, including the local
authority, Historic England and
architectural, planning and heritage
consultants to develop the design
over eight months. Each space was
individually modelled and all
elements approved including the
lighting schemes, heating layout and
ventilation.
This early engagement ensured
the solution met all requirements
and could be delivered within the
required budget. We continued to
work with Historic England
throughout the project to ensure its
requirements were met during
installation.
DELIVERING THE BRIEF
One of the biggest challenges was
installing building services into the
subterranean basement, so it could
be converted into a gallery space
with toilets. This area was also the
location for the new plant room.
All services had to be concealed,
including the large ventilation
ductwork, and we had to meet the
demands of future exhibitors such as
the V&A and Hayward Gallery. It was
essential that temperature and
humidity in the space could be
carefully controlled to protect
exhibits, so the HVAC system design
and installation was critical.
No penetrations were permitted
on the ground floor or throughout
the building, so to install the large
ductwork, we had to use the existing
chimney stacks and create new riser
positions with buried ventilation
ducts within the basement area.
Security was another priority for
the exhibitors, so a range of
specialist equipment was required
such as high-security shutters and
intruder alarms that met the
requirements of the insurers.
SETTING THE STANDARD
The new £7.75 million St Albans
museum and art gallery has
welcomed more than 55,000 visitors
since opening during one of the UK’s
hottest summers. Despite this, the
building services solution has
performed very effectively and that’s
testament to the early design work
and engagement which has ensured
all criteria has been met.
Web:
www.relbuildingservices.co.uk/
24 NOVEMBER 2018, REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS