Palestra, Blackfriars Road, London
2008
Palestra on Blackfriars Road, in Southwark, London is the new home of the London Development Agency and the London Climate Change Agency. It is fitted with an array of renewable energy technologies, including roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and 14 micro-wind turbines, which reduce the building’s operational energy and satisfies the GLA’s Supplementary Planning requirements for a minimum of 10% of renewable energy provision.
Key Sustainability Features
- Palestra is a highly efficient structure, which is achieved through the use of continuous steel beams arranged in pairs attached to tubular columns. The cellular beams have multiple 400mm diameter openings providing flexibility for future servicing requirements. The innovative grout-filled tubular columns eliminate the need for additional fire protection and achieve two hours fire resistance.
- The structure is also designed to support 14 micro wind turbines at roof level. Photovoltaic panels are also placed on the roof and provide up to 10% of the building's operational energy.Palestra passed the GLA's Supplementary Planning Guidance requirement for renewable energy generation and marks a 'step-change' in modern commercial building design.
- A Combined Heat and Power unit has been retro-fitted into the completed building to provide additional efficient energy generation capability
Fact file
Client
Southpoint General Partners
Architect
Alsop and Partners
Main Contractor
Skanska and William Hare
Structural and Civil Engineer
Buro Happold
Fabricator
William Hare Ltd
