Gilberts provide ventilation solution for Twitter HQ in Ireland

A unique design of ventilation grille from Gilberts Blackpool has helped Twitter achieve its first platinum level LEED (leadership in energy & environmental design) award in the world.

The social media brand’s European, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) headquarters in Cumberland Place, Dublin, is Twitter’s biggest office outside the United States.

The six storey, 1970s building has been refurbished, in partnership with its owners Hibernia REIT, to be as eco-friendly as possible.

As a result, Cumberland Place has now been awarded the highest LEED certification available, which is platinum, making it Twitter’s first office to achieve this level of LEED certification, plus one of the few offices in Dublin to have attained it.

Key elements of the eco refurbishment, designed by MCA architects, have been green roofs, optimised use of glazing, and an energy efficient heat recovery ventilation system.

The ventilation throughout uses Gilberts’ circular GSFE swirl diffusers, with a supplementary coanda plate integrated into exposed building services, supplied by Keane Environmental.

Patrick Keane, of Keane Environmental, commented: “Exposed building services were chosen to optimise the floor to ceiling space and create an airy feel to the offices.

“The consulting engineers METEC realised whilst this approach suited the modern, open ambience the client wanted, it had repercussions-ultimately, without a ceiling effect there would be no way for the air to leave the diffusers, along the ceiling and drop naturally without draughts onto the people below.

“Using a coanda plate around the diffuser gives enough surface area for the air to attach horizontally, and fall naturally, and comfortably for the space occupants.

“We added Gilberts’ extended acoustic inlet plenums to the grilles to mirror the acoustic modulation effect of the ceiling without affecting the airflow volume. Thus we stayed true to the architectural design and the environmental criteria.”

Sean Boyle, head of real estate and workplace at Twitter EMEA, added: “Cumberland Place is a fantastic office space… the high quality indoor air circulation allows our employees and partners to do their best work, in a world-class setting.”

Gilberts’ circular GSF fixed swirl diffuser, which is a patented design, uses radial vanes behind a perforated face to allow the introduction of high levels of air horizontally across the ceiling with rapid entrainment and intermixing delivering an omni directional discharge with high room induction.

The E variant of this diffuser used at Cumberland House features fixed blades in a circular, rather than square, perforated fascia with removable core; air entry can be top or side, with airflow volumes from 0.025m/3s to 0.477m/3s dependant on diffuser size and neck velocity.

Contact:

Gilberts of Blackpool,
Gilair Works,
Clifton Road,
Blackpool,
FY4 40T

Phone: 01253 766911
Fax: 01253 767941

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