Diffusers Star In Five Points Plaza's Pursuit Of More Efficiency In Tight Spaces
ATLANTA, GA — Leaking radiant panel valves had become an expensive maintenance problem for the Five Points Plaza building in Atlanta. Replacing the radiant ceiling system with a VAV system could solve that problem, but the only available ductwork was the existing air conditioned ventilation system. The ductwork could not be enlarged due to structural constraints and, as a result, the VAV terminals had to be low pressure. Therma-Fuser™ VAV diffusers by Acutherm (New York) filled that need and, in addition, gave the building individual temperature control and a system with low maintenance.
When the 17-story, 129,000-square-foot building was built in 1962, it was a prestigious office building in the heart of downtown Atlanta, and it possessed a state-of-the-art HVAC system for that time. Floors 1 through 17 were served by two centrifugal chillers; two hot water boilers; dual pumps for chilled, hot, and condensed water; a central station AHU; and a central return air fan — all located in a penthouse equipment room.