Integrated wind turbines had not been done before, so we had to resolve all of the technical issues without any previous experience to go on.
There are three turbines inset into the very top of the tower, which are expected to provide up to 8% of the building’s energy needs. The wind turbine enclosure itself is equivalent to a five-storey building. WSP had to look at how turbines were supported, what the loads would be, and the effect of the building’s form on the wind flow.
There were also acoustic issues – the blade arrangement and acoustic protection were designed to minimise disturbance to residents of the penthouses and the tower’s neighbours.
Strata SE1 also incorporates a number of sustainable innovations, including a high-performance facade with an air permeability leakage rate 50% better than current regulations, low energy and presence detecting lighting, and a vertical district heating system which negates the need for boilers to each unit.
