Packaged plant speeds the way
A landmark modernist building in the City of London, with an eye-catching glass exterior, has installed high-efficiency heat exchange modules, variable speed pumps and booster sets from Armstrong. By packaging the equipment off-site and supplying it in ready-to-install modules, Armstrong was able to streamline the building services element of this prestigious central London project.
One New Change is a spectacular new office and retail development close to the London Stock Exchange and St Paul’s Cathedral. The use of floor to ceiling glazing means that the matt fritted glass echoes the surrounding Portland stone and brick facades, while at the same time providing a sense of airiness and space inside the building.
When designing the HVAC services for the site, Land Securities, MEP consultants Hoare Lea, and mechanical contractor SPIE Matthew Hall, decided to capitalise on the latest variable speed pump technology to ensure that the building could be both architecturally bold and energy efficient. Their priorities included high regeneration rates to deliver heating and cooling with the lowest possible energy consumption, and flexibility to allow incoming tenants to adapt the HVAC facilities to suit their individual requirements.
The contract was awarded to Armstrong, and a total of 58 packaged heat exchange modules (29 for cooling and 29 for heating) were supplied, along with Armstrong 4300 variable speed pumps (with standalone inverters) and booster sets. The design of the system enabled the landlord’s section of the plant to be segregated from the tenants’ sections, making it possible to pre-commission prior to handing over, and to enable incoming tenants to finalise the HVAC fit out to their own requirements.
Armstrong constructed the heat exchange modules off-site and pre-tested them at their factory. The pre-assembled modules were then mounted on pallets and delivered to the construction site, needing only pipework and power connections. Off-site construction of the modules enabled them to be assembled concurrently with other building works, and cut installation times to a minimum. The number of deliveries to this extremely busy part of London could be reduced and, as fewer contractors were needed on site for the installation, the health and safety risk for this section of the project was also minimised.
