CASE STUDY


When the former Broadmarsh shopping centre was handed to the Council in 2020 after its operator went into administration, the aim was to transform the area into a green public space


Collaborative sessions The design handed over by CPW was still at a very early stage. To ensure a seamless transition from design to implementation, BEM Services engaged in a series of approximately 10 meetings with all relevant parties involved in the project. During these collaborative sessions, BEM explored and evaluated various lighting solutions that were both appropriate and approved by the client. The goal was to optimise the light levels to ensure safety and usability of the park during nighttime, while complying with the council’s maintenance standards.


Bringing light to urban park project


An urban park in Nottingham has been enhanced with an innovative lighting design that met stringent city standards, ensuring safety and usability while creating an inviting community space.


A


s part of a major urban regenerative project, Nottingham City Council used government grant money


to transform the old Broadmarsh shopping centre into a ‘green heart’ of the city. BEM Services partnered with TMES Electrical Services and Willmott Dixon to enhance Nottingham’s city centre with this meticulously designed park project aimed at enhancing community spaces.


Project challenges The project had already been designed to RIBA Stage 3, but required further development through RIBA Stage 5 and onward to completion. The existing design, which was completed in 2D CAD, needed to be meticulously refined and coordinated to ensure that all M&E services for the park complied with the stringent standards set by Nottingham City Council. Time was a notable factor as the project timelines were exceptionally tight, and some of the equipment chosen by the client had very long delivery times, adding to the complexity of the project.


Design objectives The primary aim of the design was to create a park with column lights, feature lighting and a pond that could be easily maintained by the council over the coming years. The first step was to create a detailed lighting


EIBI | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024


The design of the urban park focused on creating features such as column lights and feature lighting that ensured public safety


Optimising the design BEM Services worked closely with the lighting designer to fine-tune the lighting layout, ensuring it would provide adequate illumination while being energy-efficient and easy to maintain. The firm also collaborated with the landscape designer to account for potential reductions in light levels caused by the growth of neighbouring trees and plants. Further liaison with women’s safety


groups enabled the team to incorporate their feelings and views into the design. This collaboration allowed BEM Services to create a realistic simulation of the park’s lighting environment once the vegetation had matured, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the lighting design.


The final design provides a light and safe environment for people visiting the Green Heart of Nottingham


The project had been designed to RIBA stage 3, but required further development by BEM Services to RIBA stage 5 and to completion


simulation using DIALux software. This was crucial to verify that the light levels across the park met the high standards set by the client. In addition to the comprehensive lighting design, our team was also responsible for designing a CCTV system and services for the park’s pond feature.


Final outcomes In the final stages, BEM Services had to redo its lighting levels calculation and simulation using Lighting Reality software, as this was the software recognised and preferred by Nottingham City Council’s maintenance team, who were awarded the maintenance scheme. This step was essential to ensure that the final design was fully compliant with council requirements and could be supported by their maintenance infrastructure. The final design was not only meticulously detailed but also fully costed and supported by the installation contractors, ensuring that the project could proceed smoothly to completion. The project director said that “the final design provides a light and safe environment for people visiting the Green Heart of Nottingham”, further adding that all of the city council’s objectives had been met and that they


were very pleased with the results. ■ www.bem-services.co.uk


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