Bradford Energy Centre

Bradford Energy Network is a Low-to-Zero Carbon (LZC) district heat network that will deliver renewable heat from a central Energy Centre through large underground pipes to buildings in Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Located on the southern boundary of the city, an architectural design was required to seamlessly integrate the facility into the cityscape.

As the lead architect providing services to WSP for 1Energy Group, the design works to support the engineering parameters with functionality and performance as key drivers. The design adheres to the critical dimensions and functionality of the equipment housed within the two-storey facility, creating a built form reflecting Bradford’s industrial heritage and robust materiality. The elevations offer a sculptural and varied enclosure supporting the renewable strategy and overall green ethos.

A combination of timber-effect cladding panels, aluminum composite profiled panels, doors and louvres and an exposed rooftop steel structure, provide a robust, simple and contextual palette of materials. The recesses and soffits presented opportunities for 1Energy Group’s corporate green whilst steel work, flues, cylindrical thermal stores and external stair enclosures are expressed in a red-orange oxidized finish to further underline the raw industrial aesthetic. Architectural aluminium mesh panels wrap diagonally around the external flue and further panels are clad to the face of the external staircases to achieve a uniform design. An opening punched through at a high level to the southwest elevation compliments the more ordered primary openings located at ground level along both long elevations.

The Bradford Energy Centre will be a high quality, energy efficient renewable energy facility with a purpose of mobilizing the decarbonization of heating in the community.