Colonial Inn

CE was contacted for assistance in providing heating and cooling equipment for the Colonial Inn renovation project in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Specifically, we worked alongside the professionals at All Weather Heating and Air to ensure that this historic building received the equipment needed to maximize comfort and optimize energy efficiency in the process. Ultimately, we were able to recommend and provide a 20- and 28-ton heat-recovery system with cassettes, as well as a  24-ton heat pump with ducted units as part of this building’s massive renovation project.

Project Background

Built in 1838, the Colonial Inn served as a hotel and fine dining establishment for many years before it closed for business in 2001. By 2018, a developer obtained ownership of the property with plans to renovate it. While this construction project was still underway, many Hillsborough residents and those in the surrounding areas are were greatly looking forward to the completion of this project.

When renovations are complete, the historic Colonial Inn will serve as a bar, restaurant, and hotel space once again. In addition to this, the building will also offer event spaces for weddings and other gatherings.

Unique Challenges

Perhaps the biggest challenge that we encountered with the Colonial Inn’s heating and cooling needs was the simple fact that this is a historical building. As such, it is protected by laws that prohibit significant altering of the structure itself as part of the renovation process.

This meant that when installing modern heating and cooling equipment, we (along with the installers at All Weather Heating and Air) needed to be especially careful not to select any equipment that would require extensive outfitting or alteration of the property to install. And because there was not much in the way of existing ductwork or space to work with in the building to begin with, this posed some very special challenges.

Proposed Solutions

In choosing equipment for this project, we were mindful to select options that were not only energy efficient but ones that would require the least amount of disruption to the space as well. And of course, throughout the process, we needed to be mindful of the developer’s budget.

A ductless VRF system was the ideal choice for this renovation because these systems do not require any existing ductwork. Using a 20- and 28-ton heat-recovery system with cassettes serving each individual room, we were able to offer customizable temperature control to different areas of the building. Meanwhile, a 24-ton heat pump with ducted units serving the dining area will maximize energy efficiency and comfort throughout the space.

The End Result

CE is proud to have worked with the team at All Weather Heating and Air to install these excellent heating and cooling solutions at the Colonial Inn property without disrupting the structure of the building or creating any concerns for those restoring this landmark. Our services are centered around bringing solutions to HVAC issues for our customers. Whether new buildings or as in this case, very old structures, CE helps deliver the right products and services for your unique situation.