Client: Worcestershire Cricket Club
Completed: August 2014
Oakland Business Line: HVAC Installation
Objective: Multi-function building heating, cooling and ventilation
Worcestershire County Cricket Club represents Worcestershire in the English and Welsh cricket establishment. The club was formed in 1865 and became a 1st class team in 1890. It occupies a picturesque setting in the city of Worcester next to the river Severn.
The Club has recently undergone a £10m redevelopment which included upgrades to its functions and hospitality facilities. The result of this was The View, a multi purpose function suite. To ensure comfort 365 days a year, the decision was taken to install a new HVAC system that met the wide ranging thermal requirements in a way that also enabled the multi purpose use of the space.
Oakland Air Control, was contracted to install, test and commission a series of Daikin SkyAir Seasonal Classic Roundflow Cassettes. These individually controlled units with a high COP were connected to roof-mounted outdoor inverter units. Oakland worked around a busy match day schedule to complete the installation. In all, Oakland installed two SkyAir Systems for the lower floor of The View (members’ lounge), and three for the upper floor (members’ dining room). Oakland also installed a total of 5 outdoor inverter units at roof level.
A key innovation in our work for the WCC was the use of aluminium tubing instead of copper for the refrigerant system. Using the revolutionary Reflok system we were able to install the refrigerant pipework without the need for brazing.
Oakland selected the Daikin Roundflow cassette indoor units for their directional, controls and draft-free characteristics.
The View’s two floors provide an exclusive dining room and lounge for club members on match days. On non-match days, the space becomes a multi-purpose function suite, well-equipped for conferences, weddings, exhibitions, parties and presentations. It seats up to 140 in theatre-style conferences and 120 diners.
The redevelopment has resulted in the New Road Function Suites, a high profile venue for business and private clients in the Worcester area. The five-storey complex also offers 10 meeting rooms, seating up to 12 delegates, and a ground floor Sports Bar, where guests can assemble ahead of functions in The View.
Stadium Manager, Paul Philips, says air conditioning for The View was not in the original plans for the development, but after its first hot summer the need for a no-fuss cooling system was high on the Club’s agenda.
The rooms can get pretty warm when they are full of people and particularly on sunny days,” he says. “Now we have a fast and economical solution to improve comfort for members and guests.”
