Project Title: Cellnet New Switch Centre
Client: Lexmark
Project Value: £4.5m
Hulley contact: Jim Costello
Cellnet’s new Switch Centre in Tannochside will form an integral part of their communications network for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The development offered a challenge in terms of the Mechanical Services due to the differing natures of the Equipment Space and the Office/Welfare Block. This resulted in a significant contrast in the strategies adopted for each area. The environment within the Equipment space was to be controlled to tight standards and resulted in the use of 6 No. individual air-conditioning systems. The Office/Welfare Block did not have a requirement for tight air temperature control, however the Client did insist on mechanical ventilation so as to eliminate the risk of noise ingress.
Within the Office/Welfare Block, the Architect was keen to have a large percentage of glazing on the external facades, which introduced the potential problem of overheating as there was no air-conditioning within these Areas. Hulley & Kirkwood carried out in-house dynamic thermal simulation of the building which confirmed the risk of overheating. Following this, further simulations were carried out using alternative types of solar control glazing eliminating a high percentage of the solar gain and thus helping to maintain internal conditions. The overall result is an area which feels very ‘natural and airy’ whilst being ventilated mechanically.
