Nuaire XBC heat
recovery units and a range of fans have been installed at Mackintosh at the
Willow tea rooms in Glasgow as part of an extensive restoration to return this
iconic Art Nouveau building to its former glory when it originally opened in
1903.
This historic
building, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in its entirety, from the
architecture of the building to the furniture and cutlery, is recognised as one
of the finest complete Art Nouveau schemes in the world.
The tea rooms are a
key visitor attraction in Glasgow and also feature a unique space for art,
architecture and design with an extensive programme of exhibitions and events.
Building services
engineering, low carbon and sustainability consultancy Rybka provided the
mechanical and electrical services for this prestigious project. The main
objectives were to provide a solution that met the current regulation
requirements, provided occupancy comfort and did not appear intrusive to the
exposed services spaces, such as the Education and Learning Suites, within the
building; every detail was considered with respect and admiration for the site.
Nuaire’s multiple
award winning XBC Heat Recovery Units were selected by Rybka. These
supply and extract systems deliver filtered fresh air into a building whilst
extracting stale, stagnant air from the interior. Each unit has a heat
recovery element that is capable of transferring the heat that would otherwise
be lost into the incoming air flow.
The XBC’s slim profile
enabled Rybka to achieve the exposed services approach throughout each floor by
ensuring that the correct performance and control measures could be
achieved. As each room features multi-purpose spaces, such as Education
Rooms and Exhibition Spaces, each ventilation unit was required to be energy
efficient and controlled to suit the varied room uses and operational
times.
The noise levels were
also key to meeting the required conditions for each room. Nuaire bolt-on
attenuators provided reassurance that the break out noises from the unit and
ventilation system would not affect the required levels in each zone.
In addition to the XBC
units, a large number of Nuaire fans were installed, including Squif Extract
Fans for the kitchen; AVT Extract Fans serving plant rooms, toilet blocks,
powder room & service areas; OPUS Local Extract Fans serving WC areas; and Ecosmart
Boxer Supply Fans serving the kitchen.
Rybka was keen to use
a single source supplier for ventilation, which made Nuaire an immediate front
runner due to its extensive product range. The final decision to go with
Nuaire on this project was based on a number of key factors, including the high
efficiency and quality of the products, all of which are manufactured in the
UK; the comfortable sound levels achieved; and the level of service
supplied. This included the knowledgeable sales contact, the quick
service time for both the consulting and contractual teams and the aftersales
service.
Nuaire provides a full
range of energy-efficient domestic, commercial and renewable ventilation
solutions. UK based with over 500 employees worldwide, Nuaire has been at the
forefront of the ventilation industry since 1966.
