PUBLIC SECTOR DECARBONISATION SCHEME (PSDS)

Newcastle Civic Centre

Addressing the climate emergency and reducing the city’s carbon footprint

IDEA

Existing, older buildings are among the worst polluters in the city, George Kenyon’s Grade II listed Newcastle Civic Centre, built in 1968 and refurbished in 2021, represents one of the city’s most important heritage assets, creating the city’s modernist governmental hub and symbol of post-war idealism.

INSIGHT

A sensitive approach was needed to upgrade this heritage building with high-tech energy systems, integrating with the existing building heating systems.

What will the project deliver?

Supported by Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant and delivered by Equans, the project will deliver a decarbonised heating solution for the Civic Centre campus.

Several concept strategies were explored to reduce costs and improve environmental performance, including a new air and water source heat pump system and plantroom, optimisation of the current heating system and hot water distribution

  • Clever upgrades to the existing building services were made during design development to ensure optimal integration and performance, assisted by insights from a hydraulic digital twin created in Hysopt.

  • Timing was critical as the construction orders had to be placed only 8 weeks into the design period.

THE SOLUTION

IMPLEMENTATION

  • 810kWth Air Source Heat Pump array

  • Decommissioning of 50% existing gas boilers capacity and integration with the remainder

  • Simplification and optimisation of existing heating hydraulics

  • Under the whole-building approach EQUANS also installed solar panels, heat pumps, efficient lighting and insulation

IMPACT

Optimise ongoing lifecycle management

Meet council strategy to tackle climate change and fuel poverty

Support Newcastle’s ongoing target to become net zero by 2030

Reducing carbon emissions by circa 50%