Former BBC Media Village maintains cool with Gilberts

The former site of BBC Media Village, which is set to be transformed into White City Place as part of an £80 million redevelopment, has benefitted from the installation of new louvres to all four sides of the site’s dedicated Energy Centre, completed by Gilberts Blackpool.

Wates Smartspace, the main contractor on the redevelopment, specified Gilberts’ louvres to create four steel screens around the façades measuring approximately 270mm deep, to ensure the eight chillers on the roof receive adequate air circulation.

The 7,700m² Energy Centre provides power, heating and cooling to the entire 17 acre development. First installed in 2009, the vast majority of the chillers required premature replacement, caused by the existing rendered blockwork wall restricting the passage of air.

To resolve the issue, large sections of the wall were removed and replaced with banks of Gilberts’ Series 27 acoustic weather louvres, sized up to 3.6m high x 24m long, secured and supported on a steel framework.

Gilberts’ Series 27 acoustic weather louvres directly interface into steel frameworks or into the building façade, and provide accurate noise emission control, with up to 19dB sound transmission loss.

John Hanger of Gilberts Blackpool commented: “Architecturally, the louvres were to look as continuous as possible, despite flashing around the existing wind post and closing off areas adjoining the structure.

Our Series 27 was, we felt, the most appropriate solution, balancing sufficient ventilation to the chillers to help prolong their life and their operating efficiency, with sound attenuation protection to the adjacent areas.”

Contact:

Gilberts of Blackpool,
Gilair Works,
Clifton Road,
Blackpool,
FY4 40T

Phone: 01253 766911
Fax: 01253 767941

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