At a glance
- LOCATION: Abu Dhabi
- PRODUCT: Fan Coil Units
- TYPE: Highline 270 WH EC
- QUANTITY: 1600
- CLIENT: Investment Council
- CONSULTANT: Arup & DIAR
- CONTRACTOR: BK Gulf
Background
The Abu Dhabi Investment Council Headquarters is the result of a competition winning design by Aedas Architects with Arup back in June 2007.
The development consists of two towers, roughly circular on plan and slightly barrelled, that are each 150m tall and share a common podium and 2 level basement.
In response to the Architectural vision, the tower superstructures comprise a honeycomb perimeter steel frame surrounding a central concrete core, that is both highly efficient and relatively quick and simple to construct.
The buildings are over-clad on the south, east and west sides by a unique dynamic shading system, that opens and closes to provide self shading as the sun moves around the building. This system is predicted to reduce the solar energy entering the building by 20% and is one of a number of innovative measures to enhance environmental performance and limit energy use. The project was also designed in accordance with the US Green Building Council LEED rating system.
Due to the latest drive by the Abu Dhabi government in reducing carbon emission, other features were also introduced to the design of the services. ie. Energy efficient EC motor fan coil units which reduce the power consumption by 70%, and photovoltaic panels which produce 5% of the electricity.
The construction of the towers began in September 2009 and is due for completion in March 2012
Diffusion has successfully supplied Slimvector Recessed Fan Convector Units to a prestigious complex of luxury Penthouses, located at the stunning Berkeley Court apartment complex, Canary Riverside, London.
Every detail in the design and construction of the Canary Riverside apartments has been judged by one criterion; excellence. The complex is boasting magnificent gardens, tennis courts, a health club and stunning views across the London skyline. Naturally, the emphasis has been on providing an air conditioning system which provides ultimate comfort, whilst remaining discreet and unobtrusive. The Slimvector units provide an ideal solution to this specification as, in this case they can be cleverly concealed above a false ceiling, at only 145mm deep they can also be fitted into a floor void.
The main specification needed for this project was low noise levels, making these units the ideal choice, as they have been specially developed with forward curved steel fans and steel housings to produce high air volumes with low sound levels.
Slimvector features include:
- Compact and versatile design
- Powerful external rotor motor fans
- Only 145mm deep
- Can be floor or ceiling mounted
- Ideal choice for refurbishment and new projects
At a glance
- LOCATION: Chelsea, South West London
- PRODUCT: Heater
- TYPE: Bespoke Solution
Background
Michelin House commissioned by the Michelin Tyre Company Ltd as their first permanent British headquarters in 1909, has been a favourite London landmark for many years.
In August 1987, Michelin House re-opened as a restaurant and bar: Bibendum Restaurant & Oyster Bar, offices for Octopus Publishing and The Conran Shop.
To add additional heating to the Oyster Bar area of the restaurant, Diffusion provided a bespoke solution. Due to the building having listed status the units could only be mounted over the entrance doors and could be no bigger than 200mm deep.
The units were painted to match the door arrangement thus making them very inconspicuous.
At a glance
- PRODUCT: Fan Coil Units
- TYPE: Highline 300i Airside
- QUANTITY: 1700
- CLIENT: Land Securities
- CONSULTANT: Faber Maunsell
- CONTRACTOR: Haden Young/Briggs and Forrester
Background
Diffusion have successfully supplied Cardinal Place with Airside Fan Coil Units. The £200m spectacular development was built directly over the District & Circle Line Underground tunnels which actually pass through the basement and rests on rubber shock absorbers to prevent vibrations from the passing trains. The project includes 550,000 square feet (51,000 m2) of office space and 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of retail, primarily occupied by Marks & Spencer.
Advantages of Airside include:
- Instantaneous Cooling / Heating
- More accurate temperature control
- Easy to commission
- Easy to maintain
At a glance
- LOCATION: Westminster
- PRODUCT: Fan Coil Units
- TYPE: Airside Ambassador
- QUANTITY: 500
- CLIENT: City Inn Hotels
- CONSULTANT: Faber Maunsell
- CONTRACTOR: Haden Young
Background
Diffusion has supplied more than five hundred Ambassador Air Conditioning Units to the progressive City Inn Hotel. The Westminster hotel, the fourth in an expanding network that includes Glasgow, Birmingham and Bristol, is one of very few entirely new build hotels to be built in the heart of Westminster within close walking distance of the Houses of Parliament. Faber Maunsell acted as the Mechanical and Electrical design consultant with Bennett’s Associates responsible for the architectural design.
The patented Diffusion Ambassador Hotel system with Systemteq customised digital controls is a single integrated slot-in intelligent heating, air conditioning and reporting unit that allows hotels to plan maintenance around the room occupancy and more importantly allows the room temperature, controls and possible alarms to be viewed remotely, saving time, money and resources.
The Diffusion Ambassador unit is manufactured and pre-commissioned off-site and can be installed and running within a few hours, compared with days for traditional systems.
The Ambassador units for the City Inn Hotel were supplied with fast response, user-friendly, wali-mounted control plates, giving guests the ability to control their own environment. The units are unobtrusive and can be easily fitted within a normal hotel bedroom lobby.
Advantages of Airside are:
- Instantaneous Cooling / Heating
- More accurate temperature control
- Easy to commission
- Easy to maintain
At a glance
- LOCATION: South Kensington, London
- PRODUCT: Air Curtains
- TYPE: Bespoke
- CONTRACTOR: Imtech Melca
Background
The newly-developed Darwin Centre (named after Charles Darwin) is designed as a new home for the museum’s collection of tens of millions of preserved specimens, as well as new work spaces for the museum’s scientific staff, and new educational visitor experiences. Built in two distinct phases, with two new buildings adjacent to the main Waterhouse building, it is the most significant new development project in the museum’s history.
Diffusion were asked to provide an air curtain solution that had to keep within the structural appearance of the building. The units were installed between the vertical mullions at 3 metres apart.
To prevent any obtrusive electrical wiring being visible the cables had to enter the unit within the mounting brackets. The bespoke design needed to be visually pleasing and provide a comfortable climate for the patrons that visited the museum.
At a glance
- LOCATION: Bristol
- PRODUCT: Air Curtains
- TYPE: Chameleon
- CONSULTANT: KB Wilde
- CONTRACTOR: Ambient Air Conditioning
Background
Dorothy Perkins is a national retail chain which is a part of the Arcadia group. This particular store was built as part of the new £500 million shopping centre, Cabot Circus, in Bristol.
The design of the new shopping centre was contemporary with its full glass facia. Due to the clear glass frontage we were asked to design an athletically pleasing unit that not only achieved the functional aspect, but was complimentary to the design of the shop front.
Diffusion supplied two, 3 metre long stainless steel cylindrical type Chameleon air curtains complete with our Energy Saving Controls.
At a glance
- LOCATION: Knightsbridge
- PRODUCT: Fan Coil Units
- TYPE: Highline 260i Waterside
- QUANTITY: 5
- CLIENT: Harrods
- CONTRACTOR: Cool Air Technology
Background
Diffusion were the obvious choice for Harrods, when they needed cooling equipment for their busy new Santi Thai Restaurant, situated on the second floor of the famous Knightsbridge store. Diffusion Highline Waterside 260i fan coil units were chosen, to provide an effective solution to the problems that manifest themselves when large amounts of heat are being generated and space is at a premium.
The Highline can provide extremely effective cooling levels, and can be installed in either a ceiling or floor void. With a nominal depth of 260mm and available in five sizes, the Highline unit can be successfully integrated into almost any scheme, it is particularly suited to applications such as this restaurant where comfort conditions need to be maintained, whilst sustaining minimal noise intrusion.
- Full sound power levels available
- Simple to install
- Multi tapped speed transformer for choice and control
- Wide range of standard options available
At a glance
- LOCATION: Liverpool
- PRODUCT: Fan Coils, Fan Convectors, Heating and Cooling, Batteries
- TYPE: Waterside
- QUANTITY: 1000
- CONSULTANT: Faber Maunsell
- CONTRACTOR: Balfour Kilpatrick
Background
Knowsley Schools is being replaced by seven new learning centres as part of the government scheme ‘Building Schools for the Future’.
The new learning centres will mark a new approach to education. The designs of the buildings are focused in improving the style and effectiveness of the curriculum and how it is taught. Separate bases will be provided for each of the year groups incorporating retractable walls to accommodate changes in education and styles of teaching whilst catering for all of the modern, more active curriculums.
Diffusion were selected by Balfour Kilpatrick to supply the heating and ventilation units as we were able to provide the full range of products required for this part of the regeneration project as well as bespoke solutions. We have supplied over a thousand units and different products and are very proud to be part of this development.
At a glance
- LOCATION: Manchester
- PRODUCT: Over door heaters, Trench heaters
- TYPE: Oasis, Mirage
Background
Diffusion has been working alongside several contractors in the past year to find heating solutions for different areas of the Manchester United Football Club, based at the celebrated Old Trafford football ground. Located above the world famous United Mega store, at first floor level, Diffusion was asked to provide specialist Kampmann trench heating with roll-up grilles, which are designed to facilitate the type of curves that are often found around the perimeter of buildings. The curved units provide the large contemporary glazed structure, situated in the piazza area of the east stand, with a natural barrier of warm air, in effect a “curtain” preventing cold air from penetrating through the glass and forming unsightly condensation.
In the newly refurbished Ticket Office, we supplied Diffusion Oasis Over door Warm Air Heaters. Principally designed for surface mounting up to 2.5 metres, The attractive Oasis is available in a wide range of colours, which will complement the décor of any modern application.
The modular construction of the units enables them to be mounted adjacent to each other to fit virtually any door entrance. Oasis heaters provide a stream of warm air over any commercial entrance door and are available in 1000mm and 1500mm widths. The chassis are manufactured from 1.2mm galvanised steel. The Oasis is fitted with a permanent split capacitor and continuously rated motor with built in thermal overload protection, If no heating is required, the Oasis can be supplied as an ambient unit.
At the clubs Youth Training Academy, in Carrington, Manchester, where the football stars of the future are discovered, we have installed two Diffusion Mirage units in the ceiling, situated at the exits onto the pitch thus inhibiting cold air from entering the building.
Mirage units are easily maintained as access is made via the grille, this is ideal in a small space as the inlet and discharge air is drawn via the same grille, therefore reducing the area needed above the entry void.
