CASE STUDY | BATTERSEA POWER STATION Thermal mass, a small amount of solar gain and some beneficial heat from the retail units will ensure visitors remain comfortable in winter Luxury residential Sky Villas are accessed via a glass lift at the base of one of the chimneys gain and some beneficial heat from the retail units will ensure visitors remain comfortable in winter. Both turbine halls incorporate smokeextract fans at high level to pull smoke out in the event of a fire. These provide yet another example of ChapmanBDSPs approach to delivering value on the project. Rather than install additional ventilation plant on the roof, ChapmanBDSP has used the smoke-extract fans to increase ventilation rates, by helping pull air in through the main doors and exhausting it through the roof. Because the Building Regulations call for fresh air to be supplied to the turbine halls, we have agreed with building control that we will use CO2 sensors to run the smoke-extract fans at low volume in the unlikely event that there are so many people in the turbine halls that CO2 levels rise significantly, says James. The last of the buildings four chimneys was completed in 1955 Cool control Adjacent to the turbine halls are the original control rooms, with their walls of knobs and dials gleaming like new. Control Room A is the most impressive, with the banks of breakers labelled with place names such as Carnaby Street illuminated by an ornate art deco-glazed ceiling. This is a private events space that will be open to the public on certain occasions. Control Room B, which was built later, is more industrial in design and is now an all-day bar. These spaces were originally naturally ventilated. However, because both control rooms are listed, the spaces are now heated and cooled using conditioned air, supplied through existing grilles at high level to the space. Worth the wait It may have taken almost four decades and numerous failed development proposals, but Battersea Power Station is finally open to the public, The scheme will benefit the local and wider community, Londoners, and the UK economy, while saving and celebrating the buildings original features bringing the structure to life once again. CJ 64 November 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Nov 22 pp60-62, 64 Battersea.indd 64 21/10/2022 19:11