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.”
COLUMBIA SQUARE – HOLLYWOOD, CA
FLEXIBILITY FOR A MULTI-TENANT FACILITY
IMAGES: LG ELEC TRONICS