Mill Street, Lemington Spa

In the centre of Royal Lemington Spa, Mill Street has become a vibrant hub for freelancers, start-ups, and remote workers. Designed as an open-plan, collaborative space, it quickly grew in popularity, attracting a thriving community of people looking for a modern place to work and connect. Yet as occupancy levels increased, a major problem became unavoidable: the building was simply getting too hot.

With one of the longest walls having no windows, natural airflow was extremely limited. Even with air handling units and a mezzanine level added to maximise space, the interior temperatures often soared to uncomfortable levels, particularly during the summer months. Portable air conditioning units were introduced as a temporary measure, but they were unable to provide lasting relief.

The excessive heat began to have a direct impact on the workspace community, especially on hot days, members typically stayed at home rather than faced these stifling conditions, which undermined the community feel that Mill Street wanted to build. Recognising the need for a long-term and effective solution, the building’s owners brought in William Austin to assess the space and recommend a strategy.

Our team proposed retrofitting the workspace with Daikin Sky Air Advance systems, which use R32 refrigerant to provide excellent energy efficiency while also reducing environmental impact. The project came with a clear challenge: the installation needed to provide reliable performance without compromising the building’s contemporary aesthetic.

The solution involved fitting two Daikin Sky Air systems. A 20kW unit was installed to serve two 10kW cassettes covering the main open-plan area, while a 14kW system connected to two 7kW cassettes ensured effective coverage of the under-mezzanine zones. To complement the modern interior, the cassettes were supplied with black decorative panels that blended seamlessly with the building’s design. Outside, both units were mounted discreetly on the rear wall, out of sight but positioned for maximum efficiency, and for everyday management, Daikin Madoka controllers were installed offering intuitive and precise control of heating and cooling.

The results were almost instant, the new system cooled workspace within minutes, even on the hottest summer days, and proved just as effective in winter by switching seamlessly to heating mode. The difference was felt not just in temperature, but in atmosphere. Members who had previously chosen to stay home on hot days began returning to the workspace, bring back the buzz and energy that made Mill Street such a valuable community.

The Mill Street project demonstrates how the right HVAC solution can transform more than just the indoor climate, with a carefully planned system that balanced performance, efficiency, and aesthetics, William Austin was able to help restore the comfort and community of one of Lemington Spa’s most popular shared workspaces.