SOLUTION
To best meet the HVAC needs of this historic building, State Mechanical Services chose air conditioning solutions from LG Electronics (represented by Midwest Applied Solutions) to outfit the 143-‐room, newly-‐dubbed Hampton by Hilton hotel. Given the building’s historic status, Midwest Applied Solutions had to ensure all LG mechanical equipment fit in the building’s limited interior space and on its small rooftop footprint (35 ft. by 35 ft.), as well as avoid making any modifications to the building’s exterior. To meet all of the aforementioned criteria, LG suggested using its Multi V™ IV Heat Recovery system with the LG Art Cool™ Mirror indoor units and the LG AC Smart IV central controller, which provide utility, aesthetics and controls, respectively.
For the building as a whole, Midwest Applied Solutions recommended installing LG’s Multi V IV Heat Recovery system, which provides outstanding installation flexibility and can be easily installed on the roof for minimal visibility in addition to guaranteeing optimal guest comfort. The limited ductwork required for LG’s systems enabled State Mechanical Services to have a minimally invasive installation plan, which kept disruption to the space to a minimum and installation costs low.
“It was an easy sell to incorporate the LG Multi V IV Heat Recovery systems into this historic auto club building. Thanks to LG’s VRF – or variable refrigerant flow – technology the building’s structure wasn’t compromised, and it was able to keep the same quintessential appearance it once held in Chicago,” said David Holbrook, Project Manager at Midwest Applied Solutions. “Prior to selecting LG VRF as the HVAC technology for this project, the owners were considering a heat pump system, unaware that VRF, like that of LG’s Multi V IV line, is not only just as, if not more, energy efficient than conventional heat pump technology, but also proved to be more cost effective in the end.”
LG’s Multi V IV compressors also feature LG Vapor Injection Technology, which allows for maximum heating performance in cold climates, like winters in Chicago, and in low ambient conditions without the need for an additional low ambient kit. An attractive element to the owner was the Multi V IV’s ability to keep the compressors running down to -‐13 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning heating will not be compromised in Chicago’s extreme cold temperatures.
Additionally, for each individual guest room, the owner and contractor chose to install LG’s ductless Art Cool Mirror indoor units. LG’s Art Cool series provides energy-‐efficient air conditioning solutions that enhance the décor of a facility, and the Art Cool Mirror’s cool, contemporary mirrored finish is no exception. The indoor units also met the owner’s requirement of maintaining low sound levels for minimal guest interruption, operating at sound levels as low as 23 dB(A), which is one of the quietest in the industry.
LG’s flagship VRF technology, as incorporated in the Multi V IV Heat Recovery system, also offers custom temperature control in specific rooms, allowing each hotel guest to heat or cool based on his or her own personal comfort needs. This technological innovation is also cost-‐effective as only the rooms being used will be heated or cooled at any particular time. With VRF technology, the building can take advantage of recovered waste heat – the capturing of heat energy normally discharged to the atmosphere by zones in cooling mode and moving that energy to the zones that need heat – so one guest can have heating and another cooling simultaneously. LG systems featuring VRF also have a lower lifecycle cost than traditional HVAC systems currently on the market.
Finally, as centralized control of the HVAC system was of great significance to the owner, LG delivered the AC Smart IV that communicates with and monitors each of LG’s indoor Art Cool Mirror units for seamless building management. Up to 128 indoor units can be managed with one AC Smart IV for the utmost convenience and cost-‐savings. The AC Smart IV is also outfitted with a clear, 10.2-‐inch LCD touch-‐screen display with web-‐access, making monitoring the hotel’s complete HVAC system simple and convenient.