The National Maritime Museum
Services
Mechanical and Electrical
What was our client looking for?
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is a world heritage site and
the largest museum of its kind in the world. They needed a contractor with
the experience to overcome the logistical challenges associated with
working in a listed building which was built predominantly underground.
How did we help?
Many of the sustainable systems MITIE installed were literally ground
breaking…. namely an Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage system (ATES). The
ATES involves drilling 2 boreholes 80 metres down into the water table to
extract free thermally heated and chilled water which supplies 85% of the
heating and cooling requirements for the building.
The central boiler plant comprises 5 modular 220 watt low temperature
hot water gas fired boilers providing energy and flexibility for all the existing
blocks and acts as a back-up for the ATES. An eco-net air handling system
pumps recycled hot air around the building while the rainwater harvesting
system plus a water borehole provides water for the toilets and irrigation of
the surrounding grounds.
Other services installed by MITIE include controlled lighting which utilises
presence detection, plumbing, under floor heating and two gentle
waterfalls which cascade down to the entrance.
Work was interrupted periodically by the discovery of burial chambers
and a Victorian swimming pool. Human remains were removed by
archaeologists and interred elsewhere.
The results
MITIE has helped to create an energy efficient building expected to
achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’ and will meet the GLA targets on
carbon emissions and part L of the building regulations (2006).
The extension to this iconic site will be the first addition to the building
since the 19th century and will provide a new south side entrance into
the museum, special exhibition space, a café and brassiere, shop and
upgraded visitor facilities for the museums 1.5m visitors every year.