AET’s second installation for Bloomberg

This is AET’s second installation for Bloomberg, the repeat order coming on the strength of the demonstrable success of the first project. The Hiross flexible space system uses the building’s underfloor void as a supply and return air plenum. The air is drawn up into the occupied space via floor-recessed Fantiles with individual remote control for maximum user satisfaction. 1,550sq.m of the Hiross system have been installed in 12 zones on two extra floors after the original installation of 2,000sq.m

The building is in a neo-classical style with a distinctive Portland stone facade. It consists of seven stories, each floor being in excess of 18,000 sq. ms. The architects on the project are Powell-Tuck Associates working with consultants F.C. Foreman and Partners. The mechanical and electrical contractors are Rosser & Russell while the engineering consultants are F.C. Foreman.

The original architect was Gilbert Scott, one of the last great exponents of Victorian Gothic. He is best known for the design of the traditional red telephone box.

The media floor at the Bloomberg building has a power load of 90 watts per square metre and is packed with leading-edge computer hardware for digital broadcasting. F.C. Foreman decided to go with AET and the Hiross system since it dovetailed with the existing floor recesses. The compact nature of the Hiross system was of great value. The floor to ceiling height diminishes on the upper floors and is as little as 2.4m on the third floor. There were also problems with the cross-over of services but it was possible to run all the services including the air conditioning around the perimeter of the various floors below the raised floor.

The Hiross system not only gives maximum room height but also keeps the occupied area uncluttered by the pipework associated with conventional air conditioning. The floor area has been divided into zones each being supplied with conditioned air by a CAM unit. The underfloor void is divided into supply and return air channels using relocatable air-tight baffles and the supply air is drawn up into the occupied space by fan assisted terminal units or ‘Fantiles’.

Mr. Ali Yazdi of F.C. Foreman and Partners comments: "Conventional air-conditioning systems would have involved a chilled water distribution system. This was undesirable given the computer equipment and the extent of the underfloor cabling. With the AET solution, leakage risks are minimized since the distribution is restricted to the perimeters".

Glan Blake Thomas, AET Managing Director, comments: "In addition to the many advantages, the Hiross system can be installed more quickly than traditional technologies. The flexibility of the Hiross system allows us to preserve the aesthetics of prestigious sites such as the Bloomberg building whilst achieving cooling loads of 200w/m2 or more. Similarly, with down-times in environments such as this costing thousands of pounds per minute, the flexibility of our system minimizes loss of revenue during staff relocation".

 
For technical information contact:
Glan Blake Thomas at AET on
Tel: 01883 744860 Fax: 01883 741 866
Web Site: www.FlexibleSpace.com
Email: AET@FlexibleSpace.com