Client’s Requirements

Combining industry expertise and university innovation, the aims of the Nuclear AMRC alongside the University of Sheffield, is to work with companies to improve capabilities and performance along the nuclear supply chain.

The project consisted of the construction of the third building on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Catcliffe, Sheffield, to be operated by the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). The scheme included a 5,000m2 workshop, and a further 3,500m2 of welfare facilities, office facilities, meeting and conference areas, a ‘cave’ for state of the art 4D visualisations, laboratory space, and a close-controlled environment CMM Room.

The project also included the provision of a site-wide district heating / cooling scheme utilising ground source heat pumps and a site-wide high voltage network to connect the AMRC’s existing buildings and proposed buildings onto a single energy system.

Silcock Leedham’s Contribution

Silcock Leedham was appointed to complete RIBA Stage F detailed mechanical and electrical design works for the new NAMRC building and for the site-wide energy and HV electrical networks. In addition, we were involved with the connection of a 900kW wind turbine onto the site-wide HV network, with the turbine reaching a height of 96m mounted within the NAMRC building car park.

Silcock Leedham was required to define the final loads and sizing of the district heating scheme and to develop the design of the ground source heat pumps.  This scheme resulted in 100 boreholes being drilled below the NAMRC car park.

Added Value / Unique Selling Points

We Took the Stage E design provided by the end-clients design team and delivered the final detailed design on time to the satisfaction of the Contractor, resulting in a successful installation and finished product for the building users.

We delivered the complex co-ordination of the workshop ventilation, electricity, data, water and compressed air services distribution to the satisfaction and compliments of the architect and client.   

We also identified an alternative lighting scheme for the workshop that enabled a reduction in the number of luminaires (from c300 to c100), reducing the connected load and alongside the introduction of simple but effective daylight control, reducing the energy demand.