Tate Modern Blavatnik Building
Tate Modern Blavatnik Building
Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre is one of the most important cultural buildings in London, and this major building services renovation is the latest project in our longstanding relationship with the centre.
Key information
Architect
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Client
Southbank Centre
Value
£30M
Year of Completion
2018
Sector
Services
Challenge
We collaborated with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to complete the work on three spaces at the Southbank Centre: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, and Hayward Gallery. It was the first major building services renovation since it opened in 1967.
In the Hayward Gallery, the main requirement was to create a space that could maintain a stable internal environment. Previously the space received almost no daylight at all as the building’s 66 iconic pyramid roof lights did not work as originally intended.
Our gallery lighting design comprised three main components – the provision and control of daylight by the architecture, a system of digitally controlled blinds, and the internal electric lights. The existing pyramids were removed and replaced with a new design incorporating a mixture of clear and translucent glass, to form a shading pattern, blocking direct sunlight from landing on the artworks while maximising daylight. The result is a more stable environmental condition, and a 42% reduction in electricity use.
Our project team
Total of 5 people
Lighting the foyer
We installed DMX-controlled front of house lighting schemes for the multi-function foyer with the latest technology, providing flexibility for both social and performance use. Respectful of the original aesthetic intent, we reinstated the distinctive geometric ceiling but integrated LED colour change controllable lighting that provides a dynamic background for events.
Image
© Hufton + Crow
Improving comfort
We made two key changes to efficiently improve audience comfort in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. We reintroduced cooling and replaced the original air mixing system with a displacement system. The reversed airflow required new custom grilles to be incorporated into the architecture at seat level, and a 40-seat block of the auditorium was built in a lab for testing to ensure that we would meet the very low noise requirements of the concert hall.
Across both Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, all air handling plant has been replaced, resulting in tighter controls, more efficient operation and increased opportunity for heat recovery.
Gallery
Total of 3 images
© Hufton + Crow
© Hufton + Crow
© Hufton + Crow
