Buildings Magazine - January 2018

out, the control of the system was proprietary. So for the first couple generations of systems it was hard to communicate with the building automation system,” says Vic Amoroso, Principal at A&J Associates, an engineering firm in North Liberty, IA. “The two control systems weren’t compatible, but they have improved that so it’s not as hard as it used to be to integrate VRF controls with building automation systems.”

VRF SYSTEMS ARE TRADITIONALLY AIR-COOLED OR WATER-COOLED, and each has its own strengths and
weaknesses. Air-cooled units need access to outside air and supplemental heat in colder climates, whereas
cooling towers require special attention to avoid ***Legionella*-related concerns.**

its recent HVAC renovation (learn
more about the David Whitney
Building project on page 38).

One area where VRF has developed significantly over the last several years is in its controls. In addition to providing better control for individual spaces, VRF technology has improved to promote better integration into building automation systems for more precise oversight of heating and cooling.

“When VRF systems first came
Ditching the Ductwork

When integrated properly in a building, VRF can give FMs greater control and efficiency for HVAC. However, the freedom systems like these can afford for organizations looking to retrofit buildings is one of the technology’s biggest draws. The small refrigerant piping is far less invasive than ductwork, allowing for a simplified installation process that significantly reduces construction.

continued

Built in 1938, Columbia Square housed CBS’s Hollywood headquarters and was also home to the CBS Radio Network’s West Coast facilities and the network’s original Los Angeles television and radio stations. Now, this 4.7-acre area is home to offices and workspaces, restaurants and walkable shopping due in large part to a major renovation that yielded LEED Gold certification in

2016. But to meet these standards and maintain the long-
standing appearance of the facility was going to be a
challenge.
Keeping the original appearance of Columbia Square,
which included extensive glass windows, posed problems
for the developers to also achieve LEED Gold certification.

To do so, they needed to incorporate more efficient HVAC equipment. “Using VRF and its high energy efficiency allowed them to keep many of the existing glass windows to maintain that certification,” says Scott Gilchrist, Regional Sales Manager of the Pacific Region for LG.

Columbia Square formerly used water-sourced heat
pumps and large package rooftop units for its HVAC
needs, but with the renovation developers wanted to pro-
vide flexibility for future tenants on top of the improved
efficiency. Once the renovation was complete, a number of
businesses and organizations filled
Columbia Square, each with its own
HVAC demands. By running small
refrigerant piping to each individual
space from air-cooled condensing
units on the roof, they could give
new tenants control over individual-
ized HVAC design to cater to their
distinct needs.

“When we started designing it, it wasn’t clear who the tenants were going to be, what configurations of the space they wanted and what style and location of fan coils they wanted,” Gilchrist explains. “The VRF allowed us to design and install the condensing units in the first space and pipe those out to the floors they would be serving. As tenants signed on, we were able to let them to select their own fan coils and to decide where to place them.”