ECS project department have for many years undertaken mechanical installation works on behalf of the Arcadia Group, which encompasses the brands; Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridges, Topshop, Topman and Wallis.

The projects have ranged from retro fitting new supplementary cooling system as well as the replacement of redundant equipment in trading stores, to complete installations on the new store development programme.

Our works on the store development programme has carried ECS staff to the four corners of the UK and has also included works in both Southern and Northern Ireland.

A typical new store development would require new systems to be designed in house to suit the individual requirements of each store, ranging from existing buildings in High Street locations, shopping centres through to new edge of town Retail Park, one such installation is the Dorothy Perkins/Wallis store located in the Watergate Shopping Centre in Harlow Essex.
The Watergate Shopping Centre development was an extension of the existing centre, bringing in new external pedestrian walkways to the overall centre.

ECS project department worked closely with the Arcadia Store development team to provide a design for a comfort cooling system to the new store.

Following a site survey and in conjunction with detailed knowledge of the Arcadia Group specification, the design process was undertaken, CAD drawings and proposals were drawn up which included two main cooling/heating systems one for each floor, back of house offices and staff welfare cooling/heating systems as well as separate ventilation systems for each of the areas as well as all of the necessary plumbing and drainage works associated with the welfare areas.

The design of this store differed from that of a standard store development due to the inclusion of a large open atrium area at the front of the store. This area would have normally caused some concerns in regards to large heat gains from the large south facing windows, but due to our close relationship with both the Arcadia project team and the store designers this was easily overcome, by the installation of a new bulkhead, in which ducted units were installed along with directional supply air diffusers, allowed the area to be easily kept at the optimum temperature at all times.

In keeping with ECS environmental policies, Daikin 2 pipe VRV systems were selected due to the lower running costs of the equipment, along with heat recovery ventilation systems, all of the systems were controlled via a bespoke constructed centralised control panel located in the Managers office, thus enabling one point of control for all systems.

Due to restrictions imposed by the construction of the site, the normal outdoor unit location at roof level could not be utilised on this occasion, this coupled with the loading bay area at the rear of the store, a bespoke steel framework was constructed allowing for the condenser units to be installed at the rear of the building without obstructing both vehicular access to adjacent stores and fire exist located at the rear of each building. Access for servicing was incorporated within the design of the framework to allow any future maintenance/service works to the systems to be undertaken in the safest possible manner.

As with all retail fit out projects the installation works is undertaken in very short periods of time, working alongside builders, electricians, decorators and flooring contractors in confined working areas. As these projects are undertaken there are sometimes design changes to the building layout, which leads to alterations to system design and installation requirements. Our onsite operatives work closely with the project team ensuring that any design changes are quickly resolved.

At the end of the installation and commissioning phases of works the systems are handover to the store management teams with a full in depth training of staff undertaken, thus ensuring that all members of the store staff are aware of how the systems operates, again as with all other projects undertaken for the Arcadia Group, the project was completed on time and within budget.