Thames Water Authority was one of the largest water authorities in the world, dealing with both water supply and sewage treatment. Besides all the tank and plant accommodation, space was needed for laboratories, cafeterias, offices, changing facilities, various workshops, chemical stores, generators and general stores. Thames Water Authority's special knowledge and expertise was commercially available, giving rise to large numbers of visitors who come from all over the world to view the methods and machinery. This required the Thames Water Authority development project to include the unusual demand for a visitors' centre in its brief.
In the final design, the building arrangement aimed to combine the visitors' centre with the everyday operations of the water treatment plant. Visitor presence was included at the centre of the operations through a central visitor entrance way leading to a vaulted space which ran the full width of the building. This space allowed access at either end to the rest of the treatment works and the treatment machinery. Meanwhile the H-shaped design of the building, with the treatment works focussed in the two arms of the H shape, meant that operations could be carried out unhindered by the presence of visitors.
Construction Partners:
Client: Thames Water
Quantity Surveyor: Michael F Edwards and Associates
