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.
St Albans assembly rooms
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.
St Albans first floor gallery
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.
