RHS Wisley, Hilltop Building

Award winning new centre of excellence for horticultural science

The Challenge, as described by Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science is the UK’s first dedicated gardening science hub, commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society for their Wisley gardens in Surrey.

The ground-breaking new centre for horticultural science and learning showcases the RHS’s previously unseen scientific work and provides specialist facilities for ongoing research, helping to inspire the next generation of horticulturists and create a greener future for the UK.

Located on a hilltop site, the unique facility measures 4750sqm and provides state-of-the-art scientific laboratories, public exhibition space, teaching studios, an events hall and new facilities for the RHS’s nationally significant Herbarium, science and library collections.

The Lighting Design Solution

Arlico were appointed by M&E design and build contractor Interserve to design, deliver and commission a full lighting package including interior and exterior lighting, emergency lighting to include central testing and full monitoring and a site-wide lighting controls solution including active reporting. Arlico also provide ongoing post-completion maintenance for the systems installed.

Working closely with Wilkinson Eyre and Interserve, Arlico’s in-house lighting designers carefully developed a lighting design that was sympathetic to the stunning architecture that the Wilkinson Eyre had created. Using the latest technology to ensure optimum energy efficiency was achieved, the client also insisted on fixtures that would offer the lowest embodied carbon, whilst ensuring future maintenance and replacement of parts was guaranteed. Arlico are proud of the achievement that all the installed luminaires comply to the circular lighting initiative, meaning that portfolio of products selected for the project have 100% replaceable parts through life, to ensure the building is as sustainable as possible. Add to this that over 90% of the parts used are fully recyclable at the end of life, ensures that RHS continue to maximise the protection of the environment, for the benefit of us all.