LG VRF transforms art-deco hotel

USA: Indoor comfort technologies from LG Electronics have helped transform a 1920s art-deco office building in Texas into a new luxury boutique hotel.

LG’s Multi V IV heat recovery air conditioning units were selected to help create a luxurious experience for guests at the classic 1929 Sinclair Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. The hotel’s owners sought state-of-the-art technology to power, sustain and manage the entire property while maintaining the historic building’s unique design and architectural details.

The hotel required individual control of its HVAC system throughout 164 guest rooms (featuring 50 different room types) and sufficient heating and cooling for the lobby bar, reception area and large basement restaurant.

In the hotel’s quest to be low-voltage, the management team has employed what is believed to be one of the world’s first applications of power-over-ethernet (PoE) to a large array of end points, to help achieve many of the hotel’s energy-efficiency goals. 

Installation versatility of the Multi V IV was said to be a key factor due to the historic building’s lower ceilings as well as limited space for outdoor equipment. Local experts, Texas Air Systems, recommended the installation of a variety of indoor solutions including LG’s Art Cool Mirror and ceiling cassettes. Control is provided by LG’s AC Smart controller.

The building had previously been served by an old chiller system in the basement. After switching to VRF, the hotel was able to gain a great deal of usable floor space for the large lower level restaurant. In turn, the LG connected outdoor units, installed on the exterior of the building, enabled the hotel to incorporate a roof-top bar. 

The hotel also incorporates LG’s OLED TVs in every guest room and a number of other LG commercial displays in the property’s public spaces – including the lobby, restaurants and bars.