Lambeth College STEAM Centre

Working on behalf of the London South Bank University Group, Dowds Group delivered the comprehensive electrical services installation for the new £30m Lambeth College STEAM Centre in Vauxhall. This ten-storey academic facility specialises in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, providing high-specification teaching spaces delivered to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard.

The facility comprises a mixture of specialised teaching areas, including science laboratories, workshops, and IT suites, alongside support spaces and a full-scale commercial catering facility. The electrical delivery was technologically complex, involving the installation of a new HV substation, a 1MVA transformer, and a resilient LV distribution network utilising two primary rising busbars to serve separate floor zones. To meet stringent sustainability and energy performance targets, the building incorporates a roof-mounted monocrystalline photovoltaic array and an extensive BEMS-linked metering system. The installation was meticulously planned to accommodate a steel frame and delta beam structure, which required high-level coordination to optimise climate control and energy efficiency during full occupancy, supporting a safe and sustainable learning environment.