Airconditioning for the people’s park in Gateshead
The restoration of the Grade 2 listed Saltwell Towers at Gateshead includes a Daikin VRV heat-recovery system supplied by Space Airconditioning.
As part of the £10 million restoration of Saltwell Park for Gateshead Council, Hadrian Air Conditioning & Refrigeration has installed a Daikin VRV heat-recovery system supplied by Space Airconditioning. Known locally as the ‘people’s park’, Saltwell Park was opened to the public in 1876 and designed for the working people of Gateshead. The Gothic mansion Saltwell House lay in ruin for many years. With funding agreed between the Heritage Lottery Fund and Gateshead Council, the mansion and the park have been restored to their former glory. Alan Unsworth of Hadrian explains, ‘The Daikin VRV heat-recovery system was chosen due to the internal restrictions of a Grade 2 listed building. Daikin ducted fan coils offered excellent performance in the heating/cooling duties and noise levels required, as well as being able to integrate with the architect’s vision of the aesthetics required internally. In addition, the high-performance heat-recovery system enables extremely efficient heating during the winter months, offering a complete all-year solution.’ Installing the air conditioning took five weeks. It was carried out as part of the full refit. A crane lift was required for the positioning of the condensing units and the ventilation air-handling units, which had to be done at the same time. The condensing units are on a flat roof and not visible from ground level. The restoration project has won two awards for Gateshead MBC. • ‘Civic building of the year’, awarded by the Society of Chief Architects of Local Authorities. • North of England Heritage ‘Building of the year’, awarded by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
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