VRF installation to Grade II listed building complex

The Story

Winslade Manor is a late-18th century mansion which was built for an East India merchant. Sitting in the grounds of Winslade Park, the mansion was originally an eminent home.

The building has been re-invented over the years and was once a school, before being converted into offices. This historic property has laid empty for over 5 years before the successful acquisition by Burrington Estates in 2019.

Burrington have big plans for this stunning area, not just to the Grade II listed manor house but for the other original buildings such as The Stables and Clyst House as well as the more recently constructed offices. The overall plan is to re-develop the whole of Winslade Park into outstanding offices, stunning new homes and superb leisure facilities. All located just minutes from Exeter’s city centre.

Burrington Estates’ Vision

“The sensitive redevelopment of Winslade Park, set in the heart of stunning parkland, includes outstanding houses and apartments alongside superbly appointed offices and lifestyle facilities.

Our ethos is a commitment to flexibility, community, wellbeing and sustainability. Setting a new standard in how we collectively live and work, Winslade Park is a lifestyle choice for businesses looking to rent or buy sophisticated offices, for country living close to the thriving city of Exeter, and for joining a wellness community with outstanding leisure facilities.”

Why Choose JCW

Since the successful completion of the HVAC installation to the iconic Ship in Plymouth, we have continued to build our relationship with Burrington Estates but it was not them that we had to impress to win this contract.

We were subjected to a rigorous assessment by the approved Project, Management and Mechanical Installation companies who form the main contractors for the development of the site.

Being able to demonstrate our large-scale project capabilities and providing a turnkey approach with manufacturer partner programmes, which allow us to offer extended warranties, stood us in good stead. This, together with a proven track record in the ability of working in harmony with contractors from a multitude of industries, put us at the top of the list. We were subsequently chosen as the preferred installer for the air conditioning and ventilation element of the re-development.

JCW’s Mission

The work was scheduled to be completed over 4 phases. The first involved the installation of one outdoor unit running 9 ducted indoor units, servicing a large open plan area and 5 individual offices.

Once our HVAC engineers from Cardiff had stripped the old R407C system out, our Royston project team were called in to begin the new installation with just a few weeks until the commissioning date was due.

System Choice

The Daikin range of VRV was chosen as it has a multi and direct expansion type air conditioning system where by one outdoor unit can be connected with multiple indoor units. The amount of refrigerant can be regulated freely according to the load on the indoor unit by the inverter driven compressor in the outdoor unit. Zoning in a small office is possible with a small capacity indoor unit. Energy conservation is easily handled because individual indoor units can stop and start their operation as needed.

Key Facts

The Challenges

Timescale

We had a tight deadline to complete this installation. This meant that it would be labour intensive, so we needed to pull teams in from other offices around the business.

The plus side to this was that our engineers had the chance to work with colleagues that they may never have met which helped build the team spirit.

Commissioning

With tenants starting to move into the building, this caused issues when it came to commissioning the systems especially when radiators were turned on or windows left open!

As always, our engineering team faced the challenges with patience and professionalism to ensure that the new systems were running optimally and without errors.

Conclusion

A full detailed commissioning programme with commissioning drawings was provided at the time of handover, as well as user training, in line with CIBSI (Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers) guidelines.

With site staff training for various tenants ongoing and the official handover date imminent, we are so pleased to have had the opportunity of working on such a prestigious site.

There are a number of phases planned to rejuvenate other exciting buildings and construct new. Not only are we the go-to installer for further HVAC system installations moving forward, but we are also able to offer a full planned maintenance programme to ensure the systems run at their most optimal while meeting the necessary standards to retain their 7-year manufacturers warranties.

Words from our Project Manager:

“Winslade Park is an amazing site with luxury offices to rent or buy and also residential apartments. This is all set in 35 hectares of parkland which will house a £5m leisure complex. Although the project came with some challenges for my team, I am proud of the work they have completed and in such a tight programme.”

Click here to download The Winslade Park Case Study.

Related Services: