Building Services Engineering for Offices and Laboratories: Retrofit, Flexibility, and Environmental Control
Spike Renewables operates in the design and refurbishment of building services systems serving offices, corporate headquarters, and laboratories, in contexts characterized by high occupancy density, variable internal loads, and stringent requirements in terms of comfort, reliability, and energy consumption control. The activities carried out include both buildings with a new intended use and interventions involving conversion and functional upgrading of existing properties, often with systems remaining in operation.
Energy analysis and definition of design requirements
All interventions are preceded by a detailed analysis of room-by-room heat losses, thermal loads, and summer heat gains, with specific assessments for each space. This approach allows for the correct sizing of air conditioning systems based on the actual use of spaces, taking into account occupancy levels, equipment loads, solar gains, and differentiated usage profiles among offices, meeting rooms, and laboratories. Design is developed in compliance with applicable regulations and with the flexibility requirements typical of office environments, which are often subject to reorganization over time.
Air conditioning systems for offices
A significant portion of the work involved the installation and upgrading of high-efficiency air conditioning systems, based on direct expansion VRV/VRF systems, hydronic solutions with fan coil units, and mixed air–water configurations. VRV systems were particularly adopted in multi-storey office buildings, thanks to their ability to provide room-by-room control, high efficiency at partial loads, and simplification of traditional central plant systems. In several projects, energy metering by zone or functional unit was implemented to support more transparent and efficient energy management.
Ventilation, indoor air quality, and acoustic comfort
In office and laboratory environments, indoor air quality plays a central role. Spike Renewables designed mechanical ventilation and air treatment systems with dedicated units, heat recovery, and calibrated airflow distribution according to occupancy levels and space usage. Particular attention was also given to acoustic comfort, through verification of building passive acoustic requirements and control of noise generated by building services systems, in compliance with applicable standards. Integrated design of building services and envelope helps reduce acoustic interference and improve occupant well-being.
Laboratories and technical spaces
In laboratories and technical-use spaces, interventions included air conditioning systems sized for high internal loads, localized extraction systems, upgrades of chiller plants, and integration with existing systems. In these contexts, Spike Renewables also carried out functional assessments and optimization of existing systems, identifying control, balancing, and fluid distribution issues, and proposing targeted measures to restore design conditions and improve overall system reliability.
Systems integration and renewable energy
In more recent projects, office and laboratory systems have been integrated with heat pump systems, high-efficiency domestic hot water production, and solar thermal and photovoltaic installations, in compliance with architectural and urban planning constraints. These solutions help reduce energy consumption, increase the share of renewable energy, and improve the overall performance of the building, achieving high energy classes even in existing buildings.
Electrical systems, control, and supervision
Interventions included the design of electrical systems and control and supervision systems, integrating air conditioning, ventilation, and energy metering. The adoption of centralized control systems compatible with BMS platforms enables advanced system management, facilitating energy monitoring and maintenance operations.