Ministry of Brewing
When Climate Care Services approached us for an alternative HVAC solution, our team at CE was ready to help. Specifically, we worked with an engineer to offer an alternate Carrier two-pipe heat pump VRF system for a historic building that was being converted into a brewery now known as the Ministry of Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland. Ultimately, we were able to assess the building carefully and determine that a Carrier two-pipe heat pump would suit the client’s needs nicely.
Project Background
Before the Ministry of Brewing could open to the public, extensive renovations needed to be done—including the addition of efficient and effective heating/cooling systems throughout the building. The building itself was not only an old church but designated as a historic building. The client needed something that would be cost-effective while also having the capacity to comfortably heat and cool this large space, which features 50-foot ceilings in some areas.
Unique Challenges
The biggest challenge with this project was the fact that the church itself is a historic building, which prevents any ductwork from being added. Because the existing building did not have any ductwork whatsoever, we knew we needed to come up with a recommendation for a heating and cooling system that would not require any. The ceiling of the church also features some beautiful murals that needed to be kept intact throughout the renovation, so we needed to work around that as well.
Space was another concern for both the client and the engineer, as there simply wasn’t much room to work with. This remained true both inside and outside of the building, which prevented unitary equipment to be used for this project.
Proposed Solutions
Ultimately, the CE team was able to confidently recommend a Carrier VRF system for the Ministry of Brewing building that consisted of a 26-ton triple module, a 16-ton dual module, and an 8-ton single module. With this equipment, we were able to provide the best level of temperature control and comfort without having to add any ductwork to this historic building. Meanwhile, the unit itself takes up very little space. To maintain the original look and feel of the building, refrigeration piping was even run under the flooring to keep it hidden from view.
The Finished Product
We had a few priorities for this project. The first was to make sure that we understood the client’s needs, as well as the restrictions we were facing due to the building’s historical designation. Our goal was to recommend a heating and cooling system that would suit the client’s needs and be cost-effective while also keeping the building looking as close to the original as possible. And of course, we also needed to make a recommendation that would work with the relatively limited space.
We feel fortunate that we were able to work alongside Climate Care Services to help the client at the Ministry of Brewing find a heating and cooling solution that would suit everybody’s needs. Now, the employees and visitors at this unique brewery can better enjoy themselves in a comfortable and temperature-controlled space.
