Hull's North End Shipyard Visitor Centre gets Passivhaus accreditation

Above: CGI of how the dock area will look next year (courtesy Hull City Council / Purcell)

The North End Shipyard Visitor Centre in Hull has achieved Passivhaus certification, making it one of the most energy-efficient cultural buildings in the UK, according to the Museums Association.

It says:

'The building, designed by Purcell Architects, is key to Maritime Hull, the regeneration strategy kicked off by the City of Culture in 2017 that aims to celebrate the city’s 800-year maritime history and treasures.

'The visitor centre will house the the city’s last remaining sidewinder trawler, the Arctic Corsair.

'The new building has low-carbon architecture and combines heritage preservation with cutting-edge environmental performance.

'Once berthed in the dry-dock, the restored Arctic Corsair will be showcased in a way that aims to enable visitors to fully appreciate her scale and historical significance.

'The visitor centre will open to the public once the Arctic Corsair has been berthed in the dry-dock next year.

'Passivhaus buildings are constructed to rigorous standards that drastically reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The visitor centre meets all key criteria, including:

• High-quality insulation to minimise heat exchange with the external environment

• Airtight construction with double or triple-glazed windows to prevent uncontrolled airflow

• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to maintain indoor air quality and energy efficiency

• Thermal bridge-free design to eliminate gaps in insulation and reduce heating and cooling needs

• Independent certification by a registered Passivhaus Certifier.

  
  

'A statement from the council said achieving Passivhaus status was a major milestone, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and innovation in the cultural sector, as well as being a key achievement for the overarching Maritime Hull project.

'Maritime Hull aims to transform six historic sites and two ships in Hull city centre. The project includes the refurbishment of the Grade II* Hull Maritime Museum and the Dock Office Chambers, and the restoration of two significant vessels, the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.

'South Blockhouse, a nationally significant monument that forms part of the fortifications on the east bank of the river Hull, will have its story told for the first time.

'The Guildhall Time Ball, the only such timepiece on a municipal building in the UK, has already been restored as part of the project. Historically used to allow sailors to set their chronometers and confirm longitude, the ball rises at 12.57pm and drops at 1pm every day.

'Improvements are also underway at the Queen's Gardens, another key element in the maritime history of Hull. The open space, which was once the largest dock in UK, will link the museum to the new visitor centre at the North End Shipyard.

This transformation of key cultural sites is due to be completed in 2026.

'Celebrating and preserving the city’s rich maritime heritage, Hull Maritime aims to “draw on Hull’s unique spirit and sense of place, redefining and refocusing the cityscape to highlight the maritime stories shaping its past, present and future”.

Once complete, the new maritime experience hopes to add £5.5m to the local economy each year, attract more visitors to the city and reach new and diverse audiences, as well as offering new volunteering and learning programmes and training opportunities for young people and the unemployed.

'Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “This award is a testament to Hull’s commitment to preserving our heritage while building a greener future.

“The North End Shipyard Visitor Centre not only honours the city’s proud maritime past but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable cultural buildings in the UK. That it has received such recognition even before opening its doors to the public makes the achievement all the more remarkable.”

'Owen Plummer, associate architect at Purcell, said: “We are thrilled that the North End Shipyard visitor centre has received this sustainability and social impact award, and are delighted to be working with Hull City Council in our collective vision of sustainably designing places where people can belong, encompassing sustainable design for the benefit of our communities.”'