One Airport Square is a 20,000 m2 mixed-use development currently under construction in the growing commercial district of Airport City in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
This Landmark building comprises 2000 m2 of retail space and approximately 18,000 m2 Class A office space over ten floors. Elegant and contemporary, the building has been designed to the highest standards, by award winning sustainability designers; Mario Cucinella Architects, and will be the first green rated building, as well as the first Under Floor Air Conditioning installation in Ghana.
The Joint venture between equity investment company Actis, and Boston Investments is being managed by Laurus Development partners, a portfolio company of Actis. Construction commenced on site in 2012, with a major milestone achieved in February 2014 when workers celebrated topping out 26 days ahead of schedule. The compact design features an internal atrium which has the function of providing light and facilitating natural ventilation in the indoor space. To enhance the natural design, sophisticated mechanical, electrical, plumbing and lighting services were selected by M&E Consultants BDSP, and AET Flexible Space Under Floor Air Conditioning was chosen to provide the additional cooling.
The striking architectural design featuring large structural slabs that project beyond the facade outline, effectively provide horizontal solar shading. Extensive environmental analysis was undertaken to optimise the design and orientation of the overhangs with different glazed facade configurations, and adopting mixed-mode ventilation enables a total reduction of over 30% active cooling. MC Architects report a reduction of 48% of HVAC related CO2 emissions using their sustainable designs, and the New Build is the first project in Ghana to be awarded 4* Greenstar (SA) certification.
To supplement the natural ventilation within the building, an AET Flexible Space Under Floor Air Conditioning system provides cooling to the Class A office areas. This is a zonal CAM-V option which utilises the floor plenum beneath the raised access floor as the ventilation duct for the conditioned supply air. With a CAM-V system, used air travels back to the downflow unit for reconditioning via high level. Each floor was divided into four tenancy areas, each served by two AET CAM-V33 units. The air is introduced into the space via a fan terminal or “Fantile” unit, which has the added benefit of individual personal control of air flow and temperature via the integrated Fatronic controller, and this building is served by more than nine hundred standard TU4 fantile units.
The project is due for completion this year and AET Flexible Space engineers have travelled to Ghana for commissioning of the UfAC equipment. Flexible office space from 450m2 at Ghana’s most prestigious address will be available. One Airport Square, Accra, the first building in Ghana to feature Under Floor Air Conditioning.