The Moore Street electricity substation is an

electrical substation A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions. Between the generating station and ...

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, designed by Jefferson Sheard in 1968. The substation is an example of

Brutalist architecture Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by minimalist constructions that showcase the ba ...

Owen Hatherley Owen Hatherley (born 24 July 1981 in Southampton, England) is a British writer and journalist based in London who writes primarily on architecture, politics and culture. Early life Hatherley was born in Southampton in 1981, growing up in a 1930s ...

describes it as "a shocking paroxysm of a building, an explosion in reinforced concrete, a bunker built with an aesthete's attention to detail, a building which is genuinely Brutalist in both senses of the term." The building was illuminated in October 2010.

Paul Scriven Paul James Scriven, Baron Scriven (born 7 February 1966) is a Liberal Democrat politician and former Leader of Sheffield City Council (2008–11), who was once described as Nick Clegg's "closest ally in local government". Early and professional ...

, then the leader of

Sheffield City Council Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors. It is currently under No Overall Contr ...

, commented "The newly lit building will be a shining beacon for the city and an iconic landmark on the inner relief road" and described the substation as "an iconic building which has been important in keeping the lights on in Sheffield since the 1960s." The building was granted Grade II listed status by English Heritage in September 2013, with the building being described as a "massive and uncompromising bunker which by its plainness and displayed structure expresses a highly appropriate impression of enormous energy confined and controlled within."

References

Brutalist architecture in England Electric power infrastructure in England Grade II listed buildings in Sheffield Energy infrastructure completed in 1968 1968 in England {{Yorkshire-struct-stub