Bush House meets its Waterloo
UK: Waterloo Air Products plc has supplied an extensive range of air distribution products for the £61m refurbishment of Bush House – former home of the BBC’s World Service.
After 70 years, the BBC World Service moved from the building in the Aldwych in late 2012, moving to a new base on Portland Place.
The 300,000ft² landmark office development comprises four buildings – Bush, Strand, Melbourne and King House – collectively known as the Aldwych Quarter.
The re-developed site provides high-specification offices and ancillary space constructed around a campus-style environment. Each building features contemporary finishes and services within the constraints of the site’s Grade II listed building status.
A new HVAC system was installed comprising a combined heating and cooling system to all zones provided by a ceiling mounted four-pipe variable air volume fan coil system. Air cooled packaged water chillers and CHW pumps are located at roof level within dedicated pump rooms.
The environment of each building had particular design parameters to consider. Internal design temperatures in the summer are 22°C ± 2°C and 21°C ± 2°C in the winter, based on external design conditions of 30°C dry bulb and 20°C wet bulb in the summer and -4°C dry bulb in the winter months. Ventilation rates in the offices were based on 6 l/s/m² based on occupancy of one person per 10m². Maximising performance and energy efficiencies were a major focus for Kato Kagaku, the building’s Japanese owners.
Waterloo supplied an extensive number of CS linear slot diffusers, DF louvred faced diffusers and plenums throughout each building. The small format continuous slot diffusers are said to be particularly suited to variable volume applications.
“This was a substantial project. Waterloo collaborated with Haydon Mechanical and JLL, the development manager, to deliver an office development incorporating up to date facilities within buildings of historical and architectural importance,” explained Ron Edmondson, managing director of Waterloo.
