Building services design has gone to exceptional lengths to help achieve a high-end finish to a major hotel development- over 50m in this particular case.
The length is that of the bulkhead in the reception area for the new 210 room Crowne Plaza and 116-room Staybridge Suite which are in one, 18 storey building for in the heart of Manchester – by Bruntwood.
To help property developer Bruntwood realise the interior design objectives of its client – InterContinental Hotels Group – that of a premium finish, all the public and administrative areas feature ventilation grilles from Gilberts Blackpool, installed by A&B Engineering (mechanical services).
“Pride of place” has gone to Gilberts’ LG linear bar grille – an LG/15/3 extends more than 51m continuously along the main reception area; it is complimented across the different public and administrative spaces by Gilberts’ DG louvred diffusers, MBD multiblade diffusers, GSLS linear slot diffusers, HSLS high capacity slot diffusers, and GX and GH deflector grilles.
explained A&B design engineer Andy Poole explained:
“The reception grille was a challenge. It was an interior design requirement that the bulkhead featured a continuous linear grille. All parties involved had to work closely together to ensure it was as ‘true’ as possible, as any deviation would be emphasised by such a long continuous grille.
“Beyond the main reception, we had to devise a strategy whereby the mechanical ventilation would deliver comfort cooling with appropriate levels of fresh air, and exhaust used air from, conference facilities, the gym, restaurant, bars, lounges, management offices and staff rooms across 18 floors. It had to marry air handling units mounted on the roof and plantrooms in the lower levels. Gilberts’ breadth of product and in-house design and manufacturing capabilities meant that, from one source, we could confidently supply the diversity of grilles and diffusers needed.”
Founded 55 years ago, Gilberts has become Britain’s leading independent air movement specialist. Unusually, it develops all its products in-house, from design through tooling to production in its 95,000 sq ft Blackpool manufacturing facility. It is unique in its sector in having, in-house, advanced test facilities complimented by full CFD software modelling to provide unrivalled validation of in situ ventilation strategies.