Maintaining the conditions that enable the long-term preservation of archived materials requires strict temperature and humidity controls. The project aimed to meet modern standards of archive space conditioning without expanding or relocating the existing plant well or altering the internal system configuration. The plant supplied was also required to supply an adjacent reading room and conservation spaces. This required the developed solution to be both suitable for sustained occupation within these spaces and allow for safe handling of delicate materials within a tightly controlled internal environment.

In consultation with the client and specialist suppliers, JGC developed a bespoke ventilation system to control temperature and humidity in each space. We developed a detailed control specification that endeavoured to minimise both the amount of plant and the energy used to condition the spaces. Both heat and moisture recovery were utilised as part of the equipment minimisation effort.

Prior to installation, the system was modelled in 3D using Autodesk Revit for early-stage coordination of services. The design of the replacement systems in 3D ensured that, when the project reached the site, all elements of the scheme were already coordinated to provide suitable access for maintenance and ease of replacement within the highly constrained space available.