The Bank of San Antonio’s reputation for strong relationships and quality service has led to exponential growth. In 2015, they broke ground on a 56,000-square-foot office building to accommodate an increasing number of customers and employees. Their HVAC system requirements included energy efficiency as well as high-quality comfort control. They learned that Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating could help them achieve those goals.
Tom Moreno, Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology for Bank of San Antonio, served as the liaison for the bank and oversaw the project. He knew it would be a challenge to find an HVAC system that would meet everyone’s needs. “We were looking for a system that was energy efficient but that could also provide comfort and produce the temperatures that we needed throughout the organization.” Moreno and his team originally planned to install traditional HVAC technology, but with the assistance of local HVAC contractor, Flo-Aire Service Inc., and engineering consultant, Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, they decided to consider VRF.
Moreno discovered that VRF’s ability to zone would allow the bank to offer comfort to every person in the building. “We needed control in the offices, conference rooms, lobby area and other communal spaces in the building. We needed to be able to manage the fluctuation of people.”
Upon a recommendation from their distributor, Moreno selected a Mitsubishi Electric system over a competitive system. Eddie McDuff, vice president Flo-Aire said, “Being the first in the industry, [Mitsubishi Electric] worked out the kinks with their systems, and we really like their products. They’re easy to install and start up, and they also offer a good warranty. We’ve had really good success with them.”
A CITY MULTI® VRF system keeps building occupants comfortable while maintaining impressive energy efficiency.
Since project completion, the VRF system has provided precise comfort control for the building’s occupants. Moreno said, “We like the flexibility and being able to set standardized temperatures throughout the organization. We can lock specific thermostats to control cost, but we can also unlock some thermostats when clients come into conference rooms.”
The VRF system not only keeps the employees comfortable, but it also keeps the bank’s technology safe, and most importantly, cool. Moreno said, “They installed wall hung units in the information technology equipment office, which is essential to operation of the organization. They can’t overheat.”
Moreno commented that the system accomplished the one true goal for the bank – comfort everywhere, at any time. “We’ve liked how we can set the temperature an hour before guests walk in during an event and immediately they can be comfortable. It has been easy to manage and helps us make sure the folks here are comfortable.”
The Bank of San Antonio’s new office space, complete with Mitsubishi Electric VRF, has been a success. Moreno said, “Our clients should get good service, and ensuring that our team is comfortable allows us to fulfill our promise to our clients that they will receive an exceptional experience.”
For more information:
Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating
1-888-979-9686
Related Stories
HVAC | Dec 13, 2022
Energy Management Institute launches online tool to connect building owners with HVAC contractors
The National Energy Management Institute Inc. (NEMI) along with the Biden administration’s Better Air in Buildings website have rolled out a resource to help building owners and managers, school districts, and other officials find HVAC contractors.
75 Top Building Products | Nov 30, 2022
75 top building products for 2022
Each year, the Building Design+Construction editorial team evaluates the vast universe of new and updated products, materials, and systems for the U.S. building design and construction market. The best-of-the-best products make up our annual 75 Top Products report.
K-12 Schools | Nov 30, 2022
School districts are prioritizing federal funds for air filtration, HVAC upgrades
U.S. school districts are widely planning to use funds from last year’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) to upgrade or improve air filtration and heating/cooling systems, according to a report from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council. The report, “School Facilities Funding in the Pandemic,” says air filtration and HVAC upgrades are the top facility improvement choice for the 5,004 school districts included in the analysis.
Data Centers | Nov 28, 2022
Data centers are a hot market—don't waste the heat!
SmithGroup's Brian Rener shares a few ways to integrate data centers in mixed-use sites, utilizing waste heat to optimize the energy demands of the buildings.
Engineers | Nov 10, 2022
U.S. engineering firms cash in on a volatile, expanding market
New practices and markets drive growth for U.S. engineering and engineering-architecture firms. And firms are getting serious about reducing projects’ carbon footprint.
Building Materials | Nov 2, 2022
Design for Freedom: Ending slavery and child labor in the global building materials sector
Sharon Prince, Founder and CEO of Grace Farms and Design for Freedom, discusses DFF's report on slavery and enforced child labor in building products and materials.
BAS and Security | Oct 19, 2022
The biggest cybersecurity threats in commercial real estate, and how to mitigate them
Coleman Wolf, Senior Security Systems Consultant with global engineering firm ESD, outlines the top-three cybersecurity threats to commercial and institutional building owners and property managers, and offers advice on how to deter and defend against hackers.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 15, 2022
Heat Pumps in Multifamily Projects
RMI's Lacey Tan gives the basics of heat pumps and how they can reduce energy costs and carbon emissions in apartment projects.
Building Materials | Aug 3, 2022
Shawmut CEO Les Hiscoe on coping with a shaky supply chain in construction
BD+C's John Caulfield interviews Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, about how his firm keeps projects on schedule and budget in the face of shortages, delays, and price volatility.
Green | Jul 26, 2022
Climate tech startup BlocPower looks to electrify, decarbonize the nation's buildings
The New York-based climate technology company electrifies and decarbonizes buildings—more than 1,200 of them so far.