To ensure a high quality and comfortable internal environment in the new Liverpool
Arena and Convention Centre, ductwork for ventilation, heating and cooling services
will be provided by specialist, Senior
Hargreaves. The work falls under a contract from Haden Young who have overall
responsibility for the Centre's electrical, mechanical and public health services
installation and commissioning. The new development will be a cornerstone of
the City of Culture celebrations in 2008 and is part of a major regeneration
initiative.
The Liverpool development benefits from Hargreaves HVAC experience with similar
world-class venues. These include the International Conference Centre and MEN
Arena in Manchester, the International Conference Centre, Arena and Symphony
Hall at Birmingham, Wimbledon Number One Court, Bolton's Reebok Stadium and
extensive works at Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium.
In keeping with the prestigious location, next to the Grade 1 listed Albert
Dock and the Three Graces (a World Heritage site), the city of Liverpool sought
an outstanding architectural design. Award winning architects Wilkinson Eyre
have created a complex that combines a 9,500 seat multi-purpose arena for concerts
and sports along with a 1,350 seat auditorium and an exhibition space of 7000
square metres. The two wings of the development are linked by a central galleria
that provides access to all major facilities, a variety of hospitality and catering
services and a through pedestrian route to the riverside.
Flexibility for different events and levels of occupancy is a key element in
the building services, designed by consultants Faber Maunsell. This in turn,
is part of the energy conservation strategy for the building that matches rates
of airflow, heating or cooling to the occupancy demand.
Engineers faced several challenges in meeting the exacting environmental standards
and demands for flexibility. In addition to the variable cooling, heating and
comfort demands, care has been taken to avoid harsh airflow. All critical systems
are suitably attenuated to avoid the transmission of fan noise or vibration.
Kitchens and catering concessions posed potential fire hazards and so the exhaust
ventilation systems from these are made from Hargreaves tested HFD fire resistant
ductwork. These insulated ducts effectively contain the dangerous products of
combustion. In the event of fire, break-out from these ducts is avoided and
the products of combustion are safely discharged to outside of the building.
Fire dampers will isolate the general ventilation system in the event of fire
and interlinks will switch off the fans that are normally used for everyday
comfort control.
Large plant rooms are commonplace in such heavily serviced buildings. This
has been overcome by distributing these facilities to open roof decks on the
flanks of the building. There are four of these areas that are screened off
from street level.
Logistics and access also tested Hargreaves ingenuity. The programme schedule
has required close coordination between the Bury factory, fitters on site and
the transport team. Equipment has been manufactured, delivered to site and installed
within tight time frames. The wide-span roof, up to 23 metres above the arena
floor, meant using high-level scaffolding and mechanical access for both men
and material. Skilled fitting teams then had to optimise the pathway for the
ductwork through the complex roof truss matrix.
The principal contractor for the development is Bovis Lend Lease. Completion
is expected in 2007 in readiness for the 2008 celebrations.