Space Workplace, an interiors fit-out specialist, asked us to design an HVAC solution for 3 floors of office accommodation for Knotel, who offer flexible office space for leading brands.

Each floor is a mixture of open plan working spaces, breakout spaces and meeting rooms. It is important that each area can be independently controlled. Our client understands the importance of mechanical ventilation keeping the livability of the space in top condition for creative working and regards the ventilation provision as important as the AC.

The refurbished floors had no ceilings with all services on show. This means the mechanical design is no longer purely functional, it is a key ingredient in achieving the look and feel of the environment. Every line of ductwork, every curve & bend must now be striking as well as functional. Containment trays are no longer just to support services, they now create strong lines for a creative design element. Everything we planned in our design was for function and form.

The obvious choice might have been to use heat recovery VRF systems, one per floor to give independent use of each area and minimise condensing units. However when we surveyed the site, we found a huge expanse of roof, littered with old condensing units from various iterations of the building’s use over the proceeding 25 years. We carried out a costing exercise between a VRF option and a Split option and found a cost saving of around 30% on the Split option without any compromise on control or performance.