ECC – ACL Colchester
Stage 4 Design
Decarbonisation
Modernisation
Renewables
Project: ECC - ACL Colchester
Sector: Commercial
Client: Essex County Council & Mitie
Size: 4000sqft
Completion: Feb’ 22
Services Provided: Thermal modelling, Decarbonisation, Stage 4 design.
ACL Colchester is Adult Centre for Learning building located in central Colchester. The Council are undergoing significant investment in decarbonising their sites. Additionally, a modernisation of the building is being proposed incorporating a design focusing on electrification with integration of microgeneration.
The site was surveyed to establish the limiting parameters of the building which was complicated due to a lack of record information. The condition of the services in situ was determined and the scope of building upgrades was outlined. Working with the architect, WP3 helped provide the technical insight to ensure the scheme was not only maximising decarbonising opportunities but was also able to be built.
As with any project that electrifies a significant portion of the onsite energy consumption, the electrical incomer and other utility connections had to be fully investigated to establish what limits were currently in place. Additionally the Gas, Heating and Cooling equipment and centralised switchgear and power distribution equipment was inspected.
The site modernisation included building a new computer suite and conversion of the main hall space into a fully fitted and flexibly operated space to house lectures and further learning with state of the art technologies.
A detailed thermal model was carried out to determine the mechanical heating and cooling loads required throughout the building. Additionally a thorough electrical load assessment was carried out, taking into account the addition of the proposed electric car charging ports. This allowed WP3 to have a complete understanding of the requirements and the boundaries in which the design could operate.
The services detailed out in the stage 4 design included all MEP related items and any renewable technology integration: Gas, Heating and Cooling, Fresh Air Ventilation, General Power, Solar PV, Electric Car Charging Fire Detection/Protection, Above Ground Drainage, Cold and Hot Water Supply and BMS. Any opportunities to provide low carbon solutions were optimised for with PV and Heat pump forming an integral part of the design.