Architect and Builder Dec 2017 / Jan 2018 | Page 34

The structural design has benefitted from the use
of Saint-Gobain dry-wall partitions throughout the
guest room floors. The partitions between the rooms
had to comply with fire safety requirements, and the
acoustic requirements from the operator. The light
weight partitions have reduced the loads on the slabs
and on the overall structure quite significantly.
In addition however, the structural design had to
incorporate the loads of the brick masonry walls on
the west and east façades, which are actually hung
on the slabs as outer brick skins. This has added to
the elegance of the masonry façades; especially to
the east.
Wet Services
Sutherland designed a centralised hot water system,
with energy efficient heat pumps used for primary
water heating. The system serves the entire building
with no resistive heating utilised.
The energy efficiency is increased by the usage
of ‘free’ heat recovered from the district’s sea water
system for hot water pre-heating, significantly
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reducing the size and cost of the plant required.
Circulating energy losses were reduced by optimising
the loop temperatures and water usage decreased
by the use of low flow fittings and reduced hot water
dead leg runs. VSD driven booster pumps were
utilised throughout, further increasing the energy
efficiency of the overall system.
Electrical
Sutherland’s electrical design had to take into
account energy efficiency as required by the V&A
and the hotel operator. The central District cooling
plant assisted tremendously in energy efficiency and
consumption. LED lighting was installed extensively
from both an energy efficiency and maintenance
point of view. In the restaurant, main lobbies and
entertainment areas, the bespoke luminaires were
designed and chosen in close conjunction with the
Interior Designers to give the hotel a different and
somewhat funky feel. One of the main feature light
fittings called a ‘spitfire’ was sourced and imported
from the Netherlands.
No 6 Silo