Yorkshire Sculpture Park selects HiPAF sewage treatment

The HiPAF packaged treatment system selected for Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s new £3.6 million visitor centre. The prestigious outdoor gallery in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, the largest of its kind in Europe, will open its new centre, to be known as The Weston, on 30 March 2019.

Designed by award-winning architectural practice Feilden Fowles, which specialises in environmentally sustainable buildings, The Weston is naturally ventilated and features an air-source heat pump and a dense green roof. It also incorporates a pioneering low-energy environmental control system to maintain favourable conditions in the gallery all year round.

Buildings and services consultancy Skelly & Couch discussed the project following a CPD seminar on commercial sewage treatment with technical manager Dominic Hamblin.

The Environment Agency consent for YSP required high quality discharge to the River Dearne and were provided a high specification two-tank modular HiPAF – high performance aerated filter – treatment system. The HiPAF was installed by Alive Construction along with duty-standby blowers and GSM telemetry, to give extra resilience.

The custom system is designed for a maximum flow of 18m³/d, discharge of 22kg/d biological oxygen demand (BOD) and 3kg/d ammonia. YSP welcomes 500,000 visitors annually and required a system that could manage the seasonal fluctuations in load while complementing the environmental ambitions of the wider project.

Most importantly, the underground treatment system makes minimal visual impact on the site, fitting sympathetically into the historic landscape which boasts works by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Andy Goldsworthy. The Weston includes a restaurant, gallery, public foyer and shop and is set into a hillside in a former quarry.

Dominic Hamblin said, “This project has been a pleasure to work on. I’m very proud that we played a role in bringing more people to Yorkshire Sculpture Park by providing wastewater treatment for this stunning new visitor centre and returning a steady flow of high quality treated water to the environment.”

Andrew Baird, technical director said, “We are pleased to have been selected to provide the wastewater treatment system for Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s inspiring new visitor centre. This contract builds on our success in the tourism and leisure market where seasonal flows, environmental protection and visual aesthetics are major considerations for our clients and their customers.”

Peter Murray CBE, executive and founding director of YSP said: “We’re excited to complete construction on The Weston which is an important part of Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s future. The new centre is a reflection of our ambition to increase long-term resilience and sustainability by building audiences, further developing our artistic programme, and increasing visitor income. We are very grateful to the many different organisations who have made this project possible, including our visitors who have provided invaluable support.”