The project, by developer Glenbrook, involved remodelling the 64,000-square-foot building, including creation of a new full-height glazed atrium, an outdoor terrace and high-end office accommodation across two open-plan floors, with leisure and retail facilities in the basement and ground floor, all efficiently heated and cooled by Toshiba Air Conditioning solutions.

Five separate Toshiba three-pipe VRF systems were installed by Coolair Services, working for Medway Heating under main contractor City Build, with Toshiba VN heat recovery ventilation systems – installed by Ventilation Design Services – providing fresh air to the building.

“The remodelled building has completely open ceilings, giving a contemporary, spacious feeling,' said David McSherry, Head of Sales, Toshiba Air Conditioning UK, Carrier Global Comfort Solutions Europe. 'This means ductwork is exposed to retain the clean, industrial design. To accommodate this and prevent the risk of condensation forming on ducting, the fresh air system is engineered to operate with a maximum of 14 degrees Celsius air-off temperature.'

The Toshiba ceiling-suspended cassettes are painted in a bespoke black livery to match the contemporary lighting frames. Outdoor condensers are mounted on the rooftop, on a specially constructed support frame.

'The project was very much a collaborative effort,' said Ben Marland, Contracts Manager, Coolair Services. 'The TCUK team provided excellent technical support, producing the engineering calculations and system drawings, with timely updates when there were changes on site. Their design and support capabilities were an important factor in the decision to go with the Toshiba Air Conditioning solution, due to the project's design requirements.'

Each VRF system is connected to a central touch screen controller, enabling the landlord to set comfort and performance parameters separately for each zoned area of the building.

Toshiba’s SHRM-e system has won every major UK air conditioning accolade for its outstanding efficiency and performance. When introduced it broke new ground in terms of compressor design, controls, and wireless communications, extending the application envelope for VRF into new territory. 

The system achieves an ESEER (European Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of 8 and above in most capacities, an industry first, and an ESEER exceeding 7 for all capacities. The Toshiba VRF system supports Carrier’s 2030 Environmental, Social & Governance goals of reducing its customers’ carbon footprint by more than 1 gigaton.

For more on the Toshiba SHRM-e VRF system: https://www.toshiba-aircon.co.uk/product/shrme-3-pipe-heat-recovery-outdoor/.