Wessex Water Operations Centre
Bath UK
Grant Associates
The new operations centre for Wessex Water was built on a former hospital site in Bath. The aim was to produce an
exemplary environmental project which recognised the sensitivity of the site and promoted ecological and sustainable design and construction.
The scheme was one of the first in England to use porous paving for car park areas, and integrated swales and soakaways also contribute to water conservation. Semi-mature trees are used as a solar shading system for the building, providing climate moderation as well as visual pleasure. A further success of the scheme has been the restoration of semi-natural habitats, including extensive rooftop wildflower grasslands with orchids. Care was taken to use and conserve site-specific limestone soils and planting mixes, and to make use of stone excavated on site.