Goldsmiths University Energy Centre Replacement
Fowler Martin was appointed to develop the detailed Stage 4 MEP design for the replacement of the existing Energy Centre serving Goldsmiths University. The project involved the renewal of ageing boiler plant and associated infrastructure that provides heating and hot water to multiple buildings across the campus.
The University’s existing boiler plant had reached the end of its operational life and was being supported by temporary boiler systems. The brief was to deliver a permanent, reliable and energy-efficient replacement solution while minimising disruption to campus operations and enabling the removal of costly temporary plant installations.
Working from the client’s Stage 3 Employer’s Requirements, we developed a coordinated Stage 4 design incorporating new high-efficiency condensing boilers, pumps, plate heat exchangers, controls, energy metering and electrical infrastructure. The design introduced hydraulic separation between the new boiler plant and the existing campus distribution network, improving resilience and ensuring reliable operation across multiple university buildings.
The project required significant plant replacement within a constrained existing plantroom while maintaining compliant access and maintenance clearances. Careful consideration was also needed to ensure the introduction of plate heat exchangers did not adversely affect the temperatures delivered to existing buildings and heating systems throughout the campus. Existing gas supplies, flue routes and operational changeovers had to be carefully coordinated to maintain continuity of service.
The new Energy Centre incorporates intelligent BMS controls, energy and heat metering, variable speed pumping and demand-led operation to optimise performance. While the project did not include renewable generation, future-proofing measures were incorporated to allow the future integration of air source or water source heat pump technologies. The upgraded system is estimated to reduce annual gas and electrical energy consumption by approximately 25-30% compared to the previous installation.
The completed Energy Centre provides a modern, resilient and energy-efficient heating infrastructure serving multiple university buildings. Since commissioning, the University has reported no thermal comfort issues across the campus buildings supplied by the new system, demonstrating the success of the design and the effectiveness of the load assessment and plant replacement strategy.
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