Two, three-sided, 44-story towers clad in aluminum with a total 11,000 windows might pose a challenge for the HVAC system and a problem for the electric bill if placed nearly anywhere in the country.
April 25, 2011 - Windows & Exterior Walls
Two, three-sided, 44-story towers clad in aluminum with a total 11,000 windows might pose a challenge for the HVAC system and a problem for the electric bill if placed nearly anywhere in the country. When the towers were constructed on a site in 1975 in sunny Los Angeles, however, they presented a particular challenge.
The Century Plaza Towers, landmark buildings in a town of landmarks, are home to 100-plus tenants, including high-profile film industry entertainers, agents and attorneys. They have suffered from temperature imbalances that made the space uncomfortable and added a significant energy cost burden to building manager, CB Richard Ellis. Cutting down on the solar heat load was critical to maintaining the plan to make the buildings more sustainable.
Renee Watkinson, vice president and director of the management firm, says her firm had taken a number of steps to enhance the towers’ sustainability, including reducing water use and lighting energy costs, and decided window film was the next step.
The firm considered a number of film manufacturers but turned to 3M for the project. Keeping in mind the historical importance of the building, the management team decided on Sun Control Window Film Neutral 35.
The project was completed in four months and utility bills began to drop immediately. Watkinson says the towers save 155,000 kWh per month and the payback was less than eight months.
