The Sinclair, Fort Worth, Texas

RETROFIT TEAM

MANUFACTURER’S REPRESENTATIVE: Texas Air Systems
HVAC EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER: LG

THE RETROFIT

The Sinclair’s mission is to create an unforgettable and luxurious experience for its guests in a classic building environment. The hotel’s owner and design team sought state-of-the-art technology to power, sustain and manage the entire property while carefully maintaining the historic building’s unique design and architectural details.

It was paramount that the Sinclair renovation include the right mix of advanced technologies to deliver an exceptional guest experience. The hotel aimed to be low-voltage and the management team explored Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology to help achieve many of the Sinclair’s energy-efficiency and forward-thinking technology goals.

In this drive to create a beautifully designed and technologically advanced space, the building’s owner and managers were required to play within the confines of the existing structure as much as possible. First, there was a need to replace the inefficient air-conditioning system (an older-model chiller system) that had taken up precious real estate on the property’s lower level, upper level and rooftop—areas that could be repurposed for other uses.

The hotel required individual control of its HVAC system throughout 164 guestrooms (featuring 50 different room types) and sufficient heating and cooling for the lobby bar, reception area and a large basement restaurant.

For the HVAC system, LG’s award-winning Multi V IV Heat Recovery unit was selected for its ability to provide individual room comfort for each space within the larger property. Offering a compact footprint without sacrificing power, the Multi V IV contributes to building energy efficiency, high performance and flexibility in design, and installation options. Installation versatility was a key factor because the historic Sinclair building was restricted in regard to lower ceilings, as well as space for outdoor equipment.

Recognizing the importance of quieter operation, especially in the Sinclair’s guestrooms, Texas Air Systems recommended versatile wall-mounted units and LG ceiling cassettes that did not require bulky ductwork to accommodate the tight ceiling area constraints while supporting the tranquil environment required of guestrooms. The technology works behind-the- scenes, translating to the overall comfort and experience of a guest’s stay.

Texas Air Systems also specified LG’s AC Smart controller, which allows for virtually seamless control of the HVAC system for the building management team. This innovative control solution compatible with a variety of applications offers a single LG platform that drives VRF technology and energy efficiency. Property managers now can easily manage, set, and monitor the building’s heating and cooling performance.

After switching to VRF, the hotel was able to gain a significant amount of usable floor space for the large lower-level restaurant and top-floor executive suites. On the exterior of the Sinclair, LG outdoor units with slim, minimal features were installed to further save space.

For nearly the same cost as a traditional system, the Sinclair now has a highly reliable, energy-efficient HVAC solution that is designed to deliver effortless occupant comfort and convenience.

The developer also incorporated an array of LG OLED hotel TVs into every guestroom. Premium OLED displays deliver a picture with perfect blacks and incredible color, even from wide viewing angles. It uses self-lighting pixels that can be individually turned on and off for exact control of image brightness and quality, delivering infinite contrast ratios optimized for high-dynamic range content. In addition to the guestroom displays, a number of other LG commercial displays are featured throughout the property’s public spaces, including in the lobby, restaurants and bars.

The Sinclair is a groundbreaking example of the hotel of the future.“There’s no hotel as forward-thinking as ours—from the power generation of the entire building to the most advanced tech toys, like the OLED TVs found in each room, the Sinclair is a study in high-class high-tech,” says Farukh Aslam, CEO of Sinclair Holdings.