Designing the largest scalloped lace structure in central Manchester,
Tonkin Liu Architects has designed a chimney support tower for a new, low-carbon energy center in central Manchester, UK.
The Light Tower and Power Wall, 40 meters high,
were designed on the principles of bio-architecture, the result of a decade of innovation and research to create this complex tower.
The new energy center is 349 square meters, and opened, in February 2022, in the historic Manchester district.
That’s after Tonkin Liu won a competition for a combined heating and power center in 2017.
It uses the tower, a chimney from the center, and takes cues from the natural geometry of nature,
and creates an intricate pattern to strengthen the tower itself.
Tonkin Liu has developed a unique scalloped lace structure,
described as “the largest shell lace structure built to date”, in collaboration with engineers at Arup, a global engineering firm.
The tower consists of an ultra-lightweight and ultra-thin monoplane structure, using the fewest materials for maximum utilization.
Design Features
The tower is constructed from 6mm and 8mm thick flat steel sheets, all of which are engineered, laser cut, and then welded together to create a strong curved steel surface.
Modern methods of construction using advanced digital modeling, analysis and fabrication have made the innovation of the Shell Lace Structure possible.
The other low building also acts as an energy wall that extends 63 meters in length and creates a 4-6 meter high street frontage that surrounds the new energy center.
The energy wall’s façade features glazed ceramic tiles, helping to reflect light and movement from the clouds in the sky and the hustle and bustle of pedestrians and cars in the streets.
The intricate, interlocking rhombus tile pattern evoked the dynamic energy of the earth’s movements,
as evidenced by the patterns left by ocean waves in the sand.
The studio used 31 different types of tiles, to be able to produce ripples that increased in height, across a total of 1,373 tiles.
The technology work of the New Energy Center auditorium can be seen through a long strip window from the street, within a nature-inspired structure.
While the tower uses the minimum amount of energy to light the Tower of Light,
the polished reflectors inside the tower work during the day, and move in the wind,
to reflect the sunlight in the rooms of the tower and fill the tower with moving light.
Designing the largest scalloped lace structure in central Manchester
At night, LED lights directed at the reflectors create animated sequences of light programmed every quarter of an hour, indicating the passage of time.
The power wall reflects the moving clouds and street headlights,
as well as moving with integrated programmed lighting at night.
The tower and wall serve as a colour-lit landmark on its surroundings,
to celebrate cultural celebrations throughout the year.
Tonkin Liu worked with local manufacturers to deliver both the tower and the wall.
The tower was manufactured by Shawton Engineering in the UK,
and the final welding was reserved for the most experienced hands of two seasoned welders.
The ceramic tiles are also manufactured by Darwen Terracotta, one of the UK’s oldest and most respected clay companies.
Major civic buildings in central Manchester will be powered by low carbon energy through a 2 km network of buried and insulated pipes and power cables,
with the opening of the Civic Quarter Heat Network (CQHN) and the Energy Centre.
Power center capacity
The power center contains a highly efficient 3.3 MW CHP engine,
equipped with two 12 MW standby gas boilers.
The center has the ability to integrate low-carbon/zero-carbon technologies of the future,
including the use of green gas, hydrogen fuels and heat pumps without disrupting the supply.
The heat from the CHP will also be harnessed to generate hot water, and distributed through insulated area pipes throughout the city.
And technology improves energy, contributing to the city’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2038.
The Tower of Light and the Energy Wall have become a prominent new gateway to the historic Manchester district with its distinctive complexion.
Together, they form a global energy milestone,
engaging communities using innovative technologies at the heart of Manchester’s low-carbon ambition and climate change action plan.
