The new National Centre for Music will revitalise and repurpose Thomas Hamilton’s historic former Royal High School. Atelier Ten have contributed to the creation of a sustainable response to Scotland’s built heritage and musical culture.
Our work has included the delivery of a whole-building approach to fabric improvement and thermal response. This work has involved the detailed review of fabric upgrade opportunities, the role thermal mass has to play in heat retention and radiant cooling and finally the application of resource efficient Air Source Heat Pumps.
Quick response, all air solutions working in displacement ventilation mode will allow for the maximisation of free cooling, ensuring key public auditorium spaces remain within appropriate thermal comfort bands with as little energy input as possible.
Full decarbonisation of heat is also being considered for application through the use of Phase Change Material water heating – a first for a high-occupancy performance venue.
Finally, our environmental specialists have carried out detailed embodied carbon calculations on the building. This work helps tells the rich and detailed heritage story that such repurposing can bring about.
The former Royal High will not only be a home for arts and culture, but a home for the sustainable built heritage.
