Mott MacDonald shared recognition with architects, Foster and Partners and Gateshead Council for the outstanding design of the Sage Gateshead as it won a further two prestigious awards, this time from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) at their North East Renaissance Awards.
Sage Gateshead won both the RICS North East Renaissance Award for Design and Innovation and the Award for Tourism and Leisure, bringing the building’s total number of awards to 12 since its opening in December 2004.
As principal engineering consultant, Mott MacDonald has been responsible for civil, structural and building services design of this £70 million iconic project, which is making a major contribution to the regeneration of the River Tyne frontage. This has meant working closely with architects Foster and Partners to help create this innovative building, which features a scheme of three performance halls, recording studios and music education centre. In order to satisfy demanding acoustic standards, extensive use was made of highly sculptured reinforced concrete structures. Building services also designed so as not to compromise acoustics in performance areas were integrated discretely throughout. The main hall features individually supplied ventilation through each seat pedestal.
Sustainability was a key element in Mott MacDonald’s design, which features aspects that have contributed to an annual operating energy consumption significantly lower than current best practice.
Among the energy reducing features of the Sage Gateshead are minimal comfort cooling and air conditioning by use of building thermal mass, natural ventilation and solar shading. Other sustainable design features include heat recovery on all major ventilation plants, a high degree of thermal insulation and low energy lighting.