HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt has completed design services for The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA), a new world-class exhibition and conference centre. TECA includes P&J Live, Aberdeen’s new event complex, which replaces the city’s current Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) and is set to attract major artists and events to the city, and contribute an additional 4.5 million visitors, £113million of visitor spend and £63m net GVA to the Scottish economy, over the next 10 years.
The company was appointed the role of specifying the initial energy strategy development and concept design (to RIBA Stage 2); financial modelling and analysis to inform the energy strategy; energy centre engineering design and specification (to RIBA Stage 4); technical advisory to Aberdeen City Council; and BREEAM Advisor.
The new £333m development includes a 48,000 sqm exhibition centre and two hotels served by an on-site low carbon hybrid energy centre. HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt’s Glasgow office was responsible for developing the energy strategy for this site, and for the engineering design associated with the energy centre. The strategy addressed key issues such as significant fluctuations in energy demand and meeting the required carbon emission reductions for the site. It was also centred on the aspiration of Aberdeen City Council to develop the most sustainable venue of its type in the UK.
HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt’s holistic approach meant external factors were considered and integrated into the design. As such, the project successfully combines a low carbon heating, cooling and power network with decarbonised transport fuel, thus embodying the ‘smarter local energy mode’ principle within the Scottish Government’s 2050 vision. ‘A 2050 Vision for Energy in Scotland’ focuses on three core principles: a whole-system view; an inclusive energy transition; and a smarter local energy model.
HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt also provided the detailed design of the energy centre, which includes the UK’s largest Fuel Cell installation, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technologies and electrolysers.
Emma MacLeod, associate director at HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt said: “TECA has been a fantastic project to be involved in. It has brought together some great minds in the industry and produced an exciting and innovative development which showcases Aberdeen as Europe’s energy capital.”