Saks Fifth Avenue
Summary
From the day it opened its doors in 1924, Saks Fifth Avenue’s mission has been to be the first and only choice for the most discerning consumers, the ones with the highest expectations. It was those high expectations Saks sought to meet when it called on Trane for assistance when one of its chillers failed in mid-August, less than a month before Fashion Week.
Challenge
Offering the finest designer collections for men and women, each year Saks Fifth Avenue takes part in New York City’s Fashion Week. The semiannual event includes over 250 fashion shows, attracts more than 230,000 attendees and has a $773 million citywide economic impact. The event is of great importance to Saks’ image, as well as its bottom line. When one of the retailer’s chillers went down less than a month before Fashion Week, Saks knew that their two remaining chillers wouldn’t be able to handle the load, especially with the August heat and humidity. It was critical to get the failed chiller back up and running as efficiently and as quickly as possible. A solution was needed, and needed fast, as Hurricane Irene was bearing down on the city.
Solution
Having relied on Trane’s expertise in the past, Saks called on the
company for assistance. Knowing it could take a month to service the
failed chiller motor, Trane proposed installing a rental chiller to
keep the store’s indoor climate comfortable.
Determining the best installation option
Saks and Trane went to work, beginning with a site survey. The
team reviewed installation options, considered potential chiller
locations and addressed security issues. Typically, rental equipment
is placed outdoors at ground level. Several outdoor locations, such as
the loading dock, were considered for the rental chiller; however, the
areas lacked the necessary utilities infrastructure. The next logical
place was the roof, in particular a setback area on the historic
ten-story building’s eighth floor. The 10-foot wide space was secure,
just big enough to squeeze in a water-cooled chiller, and close enough
to the equipment room to allow electrical and mechanical tie-ins to
the system. There was just one problem. Upon evaluation, it was
determined that the roof was not structurally sound enough to support
the 16,000 pound chiller.
Devising a creative solution
to structural challenges
Trane devised a solution to build a steel structure that would
balance the chiller’s weight between the parapet and a windowsill. The
steel assembly would allow the weight of the equipment to rest on the
building’s brick walls instead of its roof and would hold the chiller
in place without touching the building’s historic façade. Working
closely with structural engineers and the rigger, Trane quickly filed
paperwork to get the idea approved and to obtain the necessary permits
for the construction and a one-night street closing. While permits
were being applied for, the rental equipment was moved from Charlotte
to the New Jersey facility, so it would be ready to go when
needed.
Working logistics around "Mother Nature"
With Hurricane Irene swiftly approaching, the permit gave Trane
no choice but to deliver the equipment on Thursday evening before the
storm was to hit, secure the site, and come back to finish the
installation. The installation crew arrived at 10:00 Thursday night
and immediately began assembling the steel support structure on the
street. A crane hoisted it to the ledge on the eighth floor and once
in place, the team fully welded and bolted the structure together and
installed the chiller on top. The team wrapped everything up around
3:00 am, two hours ahead of the permit expiration. Trane finished the
job on Tuesday after the storm passed, filling the hoses and starting
the unit. The electrical, water-cooled centrifugal chiller complied
with local noise regulations and its quiet operation ensured that
Saks’ clientele and sidewalk pedestrians would not be disturbed.
Results
The Trane Rental Services team overcame the challenges of weather, timing, a historical building and tight city quarters to provide a turnkey chiller solution for Saks Fifth Avenue. Their quick action and ingenious rigging design allowed a temporary rental chiller, saving upcoming high-end fashion events at the retailer’s first and most prestigious location. Rather than working with multiple contractors for design and installation of the equipment, Saks was able to focus on preparing for Fashion Week events. The rental chiller allowed Saks to meet summer load requirements, and its installation left no impact on the building’s appearance or historic façade. Trane also coordinated the motor change-out in the failed chiller, allowing Saks to return to normal operations, without having to replace the entire chiller. “Trane was very responsive and professional," said Curt Walton, Saks Fifth Avenue Director of Facilities. "Maneuvering an 800 horsepower motor through the store and installing a temporary chiller without disruption to sales or efficiency...logistically, it wasn’t an easy job. Working together, we completed the project on time and on budget."
About Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is located next to St. Patrick’s in the heart of Manhattan’s shopping district. Trane built a steel structure to balance the equipment’s weight between the parapet and a windowsill.
