Nov 26 2019
Siemens is helping the world-famous Hallé orchestra cut its costs by 35% through energy reduction.
Siemens’ digital building management system, Desigo, can be controlled using portable devices.
It has created an integrated digital solution to make Hallé St Peter’s, the historic recording and rehearsal venue in Manchester, highly energy efficient.
The new £4.3M three-storey extension, known as The Oglesby Centre, includes sensors which monitor and automatically adjust temperature, air quality and lighting to achieve optimal room conditions.
This will lower energy consumption in every room in the new building to significantly reduce operating costs by up to 35% and lower CO2 emissions from the building.
Meanwhile, Siemens’ innovative Green Leaf controls notifies the room user of unnecessary energy consumption to encourage them to actively save energy.
The system’s ability to automatically regulate temperature and humidity has the added benefit of providing well-balanced acoustics for performers and the audience.
As part of the project Siemens has installed its industry-leading fire monitoring device, Cerberus Pro, and a new CCTV security system.
These systems are linked into Siemens’ digital building management system, Desigo, an intuitive platform that can be used to keep the building and its users safe and secure.
The Desigo also future proofs the historic St Peter’s building by using open communication protocols which can connect to third party devices – not just Siemens products - and is Internet of Things (IoT)-ready so it can connect to new smart devices in the future.
Robin Phillips, Siemens Manchester Site Director, said: “For more than 20 years Siemens and the Hallé have worked closely together to find new and innovative ways of partnering on projects that present the links between engineering and music.
“With tens of thousands of people visiting the venue each year, the Hallé needed an intelligent system which responds to changes in the building in real time and is easy to control.
“The technology we have installed allows the building to talk, tell us how it feels, if it is under stress, what it is missing.
“It also functions discreetly behind the scenes, without compromising the performer or audience experience or the integrity of the design.
“It has been fantastic to be able to bring together our experts in our Building Technologies and Smart Infrastructure division to create a safe, comfortable and highly energy efficient building.”
John Summers, Chief Executive of the Hallé, said: “The sustainability and energy efficiency of this magnificent new facility was also at the heart of our design.
“Working with Siemens we have been able to find state-of-the-art solutions which will support Hallé’s targets for energy efficiency, comfort, safety and security.
“By reducing the building’s energy use, we can play our part in meeting the challenge of climate change while reducing operating costs, so more resources can be dedicated to nurturing future generations of musical talent."
Siemens installed the technology ahead of the building’s official opening on November 20.
Hallé St Peter’s joins an impressive list of cultural buildings across the globe who have partnered with Siemens on upgrading their BMS, including Museum Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, Aïshti Foundation gallery in Beirut, Lebanon, and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.