Alpine Works were appointed as Principal Contractor by University College London (UCL) to deliver the full design and construction of a critical new substation within the historic Rockefeller Building, with completion achieved in June 2025.

This complex and high-risk project involved the full decommissioning and decontamination of legacy systems, including the safe removal of three large generator oil tanks. The scope also included the excavation and construction of a new lightwell to enable delivery of major plant equipment, along with the installation of a bespoke lifting beam.

New build elements included the construction of four key infrastructure rooms: a Main LV Switch Room, Transformer Room, HV Switchgear Room, and a UKPN Incoming HV Switch Room. This specialist work was designed and constructed to enhanced specifications, including four-hour fire-rated walls, ceilings, and service penetrations.

Services works were extensive and technically advanced. They included the supply and installation of a new main LV switchboard with integrated metering, a new HV/LV transformer, HV switchgear, and a comprehensive suite of building services:

• New outgoing LV submains to existing site locations
• Specialist earthing systems and emergency power-off interlocks
• Remote-monitored lighting and emergency lighting systems
• Fire alarm systems with plant shutdown interface
• Access control, CCTV and security systems
• Structured data wiring and BMS with remote alerts
• Leak detection and dedicated ventilation for environmental control

All systems were rigorously commissioned and witnessed by key stakeholders. Bespoke training and familiarisation were provided to ensure long-term operability and maintainability.

This was one of Alpine Works’ most challenging projects to date —due to the highly technical demands and safety-critical nature of the systems, along with the excavation and redirection of a major external gas supply pipe, which required close liaison with statutory authorities.

Despite these challenges, the project was successfully delivered in a live, fully operational central London academic building, requiring continuous coordination with UCL departments, estate teams, local residents, and third-party suppliers. Works were sequenced meticulously to avoid disruption to surrounding operations, and extensive measures were taken to manage access, logistics, and safety.

We are especially proud to report that the project was delivered with zero incidents and received consistent praise from UCL for the professionalism, courtesy, and problem-solving of the site team throughout.

The Rockefeller Substation Project has delivered a future-proofed, energy-efficient HV/LV infrastructure for one of UCL’s most important academic sites. The system supports current operations and provides substantial additional capacity to meet the demands of future upgrades and growth in UCL’s world-leading research and teaching activities.

This project stands as a testament to what can be achieved through determination, technical excellence, and collaborative problem-solving. UCL have expressed their deep satisfaction with both the end result and the manner in which Alpine Works conducted the project from start to finish.