Bunhill 2 Energy Centre

Islington, London

Bunhill 2 is the culmination of a unique collaboration between Islington Borough Council and Transport for London. This multi-award-winning project was the first known scheme in the world to take heat from an underground rail network and use it to provide lower cost, greener heating and cooling. It serves 1,350 homes, two leisure centres and a school.

McGurk Architects were appointed to deliver the £16.3m project from RIBA Stage 3 to completion.

The corner site is surrounded by a number of high-rise buildings and the adjacent 18 storey, 1960s Kestrel House. Elevational studies and massing models were used to ensure the building would integrate with the historic streetscape. The Energy Centre was designed as an assembly of prefabricated plant equipment, screened by perforated architectural cladding, which was designed in collaboration with artist, Toby Paterson.
The project is as an exemplar project for other London Boroughs and around the world, reducing heating bills and carbon emissions by around 500 tones/year, while improving air quality.

Awards

RIBA Journal MacEwen Award 2021 – Commended
RIBA Journal Front Cover February 2021
RIAI Architecture Awards 2020 – Sustainability Award – Winner

RIAI Architecture Awards 2020 – International Award – Commendation
Dezeen Architecture Awards 2020 – Infrastructure Award – Shortlisted
New London Awards 2020 – Environmental Prize – Winner
Blueprint Awards 2020 - Finalist