THE CHALLENGE

Like most schools built in the 1950s, Kellar wasn’t air conditioned. Improving air quality and temperature control was a priority for administrators, but installing ductwork in the ceilings would have required expensive and time-consuming asbestos-abatement work — not an option for a cash-constrained school district that needed to complete the job during the summer break.

KED SOLUTION

Rather than installing centralized air conditioning, we chose a more economical decentralized system. AC unit ventilators sit outside the building, with ductwork integrated into the casework on exterior walls. This solution eliminated the cost of abatement as well as ceiling and lighting upgrades. We also tied the unit ventilators into the school’s upgraded hot-water heating system to heat classrooms more effectively. Web-based controls allow the facilities team to monitor both heating and cooling systems remotely.