The Tanks - Tate Modern II | Herzog & de Meuron

Like the original Tate Modern, the new building is designed by Herzog & de Meuron and will present a striking combination of the raw and the refined, found industrial spaces and 21st century architecture. The façade will use brick to match the surface of the existing structure, while creating something radically new – a perforated brick lattice through which the interior lights will glow in the evening. Windows and the terrace will appear as cuts in the brick surface. The building will rise 64.5 metres above ground in 11 levels, its height responding to the iconic chimney of Giles Gilbert Scott’s power station. If the Turbine Hall was the defining emblem of Tate Modern’s first stage, the vast oil tanks, at the base of the building, will become as closely associated with the new building. These raw industrial spaces will retain their rough-edged atmosphere to become an unforgettable performance and exhibition venue. Beautiful new galleries displaying the Collection will have a greater variation of sizes and shapes than the original museum, and there will be a larger space for temporary exhibitions. Tate Exchange will enable groups to exchange skills and ideas, there will be new seminar spaces, and a cutting-edge Media Lab. Social spaces will include a new Members Room, a Level 10 restaurant, and a public terrace on Level 11 all with outstanding views across the capital. The building will be a model of environmental sustainability, setting new benchmarks for museums and galleries in the UK. It will draw much of its energy needs from heat emitted by EDF’s transformers in the adjoining operational switch house. With a high thermal mass, frequent use of natural ventilation, and utilisation of daylight, the new building will use 54% less energy and generate 44% less carbon than current building regulations demand. structural engineering Immediately to the south of London's Tate Modern gallery is the switch house that once served the oil-fired power station formerly located in the main riverside building. Beneath are three huge concrete underground oil tanks, 8m deep. This is the site for Tate Modern II, an extraordinary new building designed by Herzog & de Meuron that embraces the in situ industrial structures and is closely integrated with its heritage listed neighbour. The new building increases the display space by 60% over 11 main levels. Its form is complex, with an irregular ground plan largely dictated by site constraints. The concrete tank lids have been demolished to enable use of the tank interiors. The west tank forms the basement level (level 1) of the new structure, with mezzanine levels inserted. The other two have been refurbished as "as found" gallery space, with heightened walls, new roof slabs and above-ground landscaping. Entry is via a lobby in part of the switch house, connecting to the Tate's Turbine Hall at basement level. Above ground, Tate Modern II rises in a truncated twisting pyramid, with sharp corners and inward creases, breaking the facades into complex geometries - in response to the rectilinear monumentality of the main building. Its raking superstructure is steel frame, with members encased in concrete for ease of construction and to meet aesthetic and fire proofing requirements. There are no columns at the corners. As part of the stability strategy, two large rectangular cores are provided up to level 6, with one continuing beyond. Precast waterproof concrete panels - with integrated window inserts - support the building's brick exterior cladding, provide a weather seal. They are connected back to secondary beams spanning between main columns. This configuration resolves the challenges of working with 8 differently-raked planes. Visually, the brickwork envelope ties the new building to the old but here it takes the form of a sloping perforated screen, punctuated by windows of varying size and format. The complex facade solution provides limited access for maintenance and cleaning, making waterproofing a primary issue. The waterproofing system has been designed to last for the entire design life of the building. For testing purposes, a full-scale "model" of one corner of the building was constructed, including a corner, a crease, precast panels, windows, brick skin and finishes. At the double-height top floor, a ring of glazed curtain-walling is set back from the facade to form a terrace, with the structure continuing above. The old and new buildings connect at levels 1 and 2, and at 5 via a new bridge to the switch house. The eastern end of the switch house and old terrace have been retained, and a new steel frame provides 18m spans for gallery use at the western end. New columns positions have been carefully placed to match existing. soil & groundwater Tate Modern is located on the site of the UK's first oil-fired power station on the south bank of the River Thames in London. Tate Modern II, an extension to it, is sited behind it on ground with a complex history of potentially-contaminative industrial activities, including asbestos, gas, engineering, chemical and printing works. Our work as project environmental consultants has included the detailed assessment of soil gas regimes and groundwater regimes, a review of historical and existing data, ground investigations, chemical testing and monitoring. A Conceptual Site Model has been developed, highlighting potential pollutant linkages. We then developed a strategy for the management of these during demolition and construction phases. Additional risk assessment for infiltration systems as well as input into BREEAM assessment work has also been completed. The gas mitigation measures adopted as a result of our investigations, in conjunction with substructure design, has resulted in cost savings and minimal impact on design detail in confined areas. The detailed groundwater regime assessment has negated the requirement for specific groundwater remediation, achieving cost savings of around £100,000 and minimising any impact on the tight construction programme. Through close liaison with statutory authorities, we obtained approval in advance of the development for our strategy for ground contamination risk management, which was a client requirement. Ramboll UK's environmental management input will continue throughout the project to ensure adequate management of any ground contamination risks that may occur.