Turbines give Sheffield sustainable edge
SHEFFIELD has taken a major step forward in becoming recognised as a home to sustainable development following the installation of the first large scale, building-mounted wind turbines in the city centre.
JF Finnegan has erected the turbines at Sheffield City College.
The trio of 6KW roof mounted wind turbines stand at 15m in height, each with 3m blades which represent a total 6m diameter.
The energy generated by the turbines and the solar panels is fed back into the energy distribution system for the college’s tower block.
And an energy display monitor is positioned within the college’s atrium to inform staff and students, at any point, the amount of energy that is being created.
The new wind turbines are the most visible of a host of sustainable features at the college including: photovoltaic cells mounted on the south facade of the newly completed tower, a rainwater recycling system, green sedum roofs to encourage biodiversity, natural ventilation of all rooms, high efficiency light fittings and an additional turbine which is in operation at ground level and helps to power the nursery building.
The turbines also form part of a wider sustainability strategy at the college which includes blending energy saving technology with recycling from existing sources.
Julie Byrne, executive director of Sheffield City College, said: “Sustainability has been a key element of the design process of this exceptional building and will reduce the running costs, educate learners and staff in energy use and conservation and promote the college as a forward-thinking organisation.
“To have Sheffield’s first major building mounted wind turbines in operation on the college is a great achievement and demonstrates our commitment to the future of our students, our facility and our city.”
Tom Charles, construction manager for JF Finnegan, said: “The entire construction of Sheffield City College has been a complex and exciting process due to the logistics of working around staff and students.
“To install three, 15m-high turbines onto an eight-storey building was a major undertaking and these, along with the striking design and sheer scale of the project, will undoubtedly ensure that the building achieves its goal as a highly visible, iconic building in the North of England.”
Sheffield City College’s project team comprising of Jefferson Sheard Architects, JF Finnegan, AECOM, VB Johnson and Eastwood & Partners was appointed in 2005 with work commencing on site in August 2007.
JF Finnegan recently handed over Phase three of the project which incorporated the flagship atrium building and seven storey tower which contain some 50 teaching rooms including training salons and science laboratories as well as staff facilities, a spa, Sparks Restaurant and student refectory.
The final phase is now underway with the construction of a brand new sports hall, outdoor sports pitches, a comprehensive landscaping programme which will create parkland style area to be used as amenity space and also the completion of the road works and a suspended paved concourse to form the access for the new college entrance.
