Modern workplaces increasingly favour exposed soffits, higher ceilings and flexible interiors. While these design choices improve aesthetics and can contribute to lower embodied carbon by reducing suspended ceiling materials, they also remove the traditional space used to distribute air through ductwork.
As a result, designers are looking for HVAC solutions that can maintain thermal comfort while preserving open, adaptable spaces.
Cooling a large office isn’t simply about lowering temperatures.
The most effective systems should:
→ minimise fan energy
→ distribute air evenly
→ adapt to changing occupancy
→ reduce maintenance
→ integrate with low-carbon building strategies.
Several technologies can achieve this, including chilled beams, variable refrigerant flow (VRF), displacement ventilation and underfloor air conditioning. Each has strengths depending on the building type and operational requirements.
Rather than using ceiling ducts, underfloor air conditioning supplies conditioned air through a raised access floor.
This approach can:
→ free up ceiling space
→ support exposed soffits
→ improve layout flexibility
→ simplify future workplace reconfiguration
→ reduce disruption during tenant fit-outs.
In refurbishment projects, it can also help retain valuable floor-to-ceiling height where every millimetre matters.
There is no single HVAC solution that suits every building. The most energy-efficient approach depends on factors including occupancy patterns, floorplate depth, refurbishment constraints and long-term flexibility.
For commercial offices where adaptability, sustainability and future tenant changes are priorities, underfloor air conditioning has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional ceiling ductwork.
