Old Library, Oldham

Our team was commissioned to deliver the MEP design for the refurbishment of Grade II Listed Library, a well-known local building constructed in 1883. The refurbishment would transform the building into a community heritage centre and an administrative centre for the Council.

The project involved converting the old library into a multi-purpose facility, including exhibition spaces to showcase historical items, conference rooms, meeting areas, a new council chamber, administrative offices, and performance studios. As the building was dilapidated for many years, the first phase of the renovation focused on making it watertight by adding additional sealing and installing new windows that provide natural ventilation.

Our team was commissioned to deliver the MEP design for the £25million refurbishment of Grade II Listed Library, a well-known local building constructed in 1883. The refurbishment transforms the building into a community heritage centre with museum and exhibition galleries and an administrative centre for the Council.

We worked with: the Lead Consultant and Architect, Ellis Williams; Turner and Townsend as the project manager; Keelagher Okey Klein as the principal designer; Heritage Project Management as the heritage consultant; Rider Levett Bucknall as the quantity surveyor; Curtins as the structural designer; AEC as the acoustic engineer; Ridge as the lighting design lead; Tetra Tech as the fire consultant; Buro Happold as the security consultant; Mather & Co who advised on exhibitions; Stage Right as the theatre consultant; and the Construction Partner, Tilbury Douglas.

The project involved converting the old library into a multi-purpose facility, including exhibition spaces to showcase historical items, conference rooms, meeting areas, a new council chamber, administrative offices, and performance studios. As the building was dilapidated for many years, the first phase of the renovation focused on making it watertight by adding additional sealing and installing new windows that provide natural ventilation.

Our responsibilities included producing a detailed MEP design and carrying out a Low Zero Carbon (LZC) assessment in collaboration with the MEP design team. Using TAS dynamic simulation software, our team modelled the building’s baseline energy performance and assessed the impact of various low and zero carbon technologies. Dynamic thermal modelling was also undertaken to address overheating risks and improve building performance. The study considered the unique constraints of a heritage building, ensuring that energy efficiency improvements aligned with strict conservation requirements.

Key design measures included the integration of natural ventilation wherever possible, air handling units with integrated air source heat pumps for mechanically ventilated spaces, a roof-mounted monocrystalline solar PV array above the new council chamber, and solar PV glass within the large second-floor skylight. In addition, provision was made for a capped connection to Oldham’s proposed mine water district heating network, offering a future-proofed pathway to significantly reduced carbon emissions.

As a result of these measures, the building is projected to achieve a 9% reduction in annual operational carbon emissions, with the potential to reach up to 65% savings once connected to the district heating network. This approach provides Oldham Council with a clear, long-term route to net zero operation while preserving the building’s historic character and cultural value.