Open plan has been
taken to extremes in a European Centre of Excellence - but it’s proved no
obstacle for the ventilation strategy.
To the M&E team’s
brief, leading air movement specialist Gilberts developed an advanced
draught-free solution to the refurbishment and refit for Uber’s European Centre
of Excellence, using air movement principles more commonly employed in aircraft
and Formula 1 engineering.
Architects Healy &
Partners designed a contemporary work space for the software house’s premises
in Limerick, with the open ‘feel’ extending to removing ceilings and creating
symmetrical exposed services in the offices, meeting rooms and break-out areas.
Consulting engineers
Metsec and supplier Keane Environmental worked closely to develop a ventilation
strategy that would ensure adequate airflow with a comfortable, draught-free
internal environment, and turned to Gilberts to deliver the solution.
In response 160 of
Gilberts’ circular GSFE fixed swirl diffusers, specially fitted with coanda
plates, have been installed throughout the four-storey building. The diffusers,
a patented design, use radial vanes behind a perforated face to allow the introduction
of high levels of air horizontally across the ceiling with rapid entrainment
and intermixing. The addition of coanda plates further encourage the incoming
cooler air to track along the nearest surface, gradually dropping into the room
below.
“There is a fashion to
leave the services exposed in commercial developments, but it brings practical
issues regarding air movement and comfort conditions,” explained Keane
Environmental’s Patrick Keane. “Most grilles are designed and built to operate
with a ceiling. If there’s no full ceiling, an alternative strategy needs to be
found. The whole building services design team worked closely to develop a
solution. Gilberts’ diffuser was the closest in its core design to meeting our
needs, with its contemporary design and horizontal airflow; the addition of the
coanda plate gives just enough surface area for the jet of air to move as
required without draughts or cold spots.”
Gilberts is the UK’s
leading independent air movement specialist. Alongside its comprehensive range
of grilles, louvres and diffusers, it has the ability, in-house, to design,
manufacture, and test bespoke solutions to meet specific project requirements.It
also has one of the most technically-advanced in-house test centres in the
country- which it designed and built using internal resources- at its 90,000sq
ft Blackpool headquarters.
