Manders Organs Building (Grade 2 Listed)

Date: April to October 2022 Project value: £250,000 Mechanical and Electrical South Coast Building Group undertook design, supply and installation of commercial boiler house and heating system consisting of 80 cast iron period radiators, BMS controls, domestic property boiler, heating, and hot and cold water installation. The building started life as a Victorian school, with Manders Organs purchasing the property at the beginning of the twentieth century. Manders was bought out by an American organ builder and sold up their workshop. The old building was then leased to a film company for period filming and South Coast Building Group were asked to design, supply, and install commercial sized heating system to the main building. Careful attention had to be paid to the aesthetic of the building and the new system had to fit in with the period design so filming could take place without the risk of telltale modern signs ruining the shot. The installation of the boiler took place in an old storeroom that wouldn't be used for filming, but every space outside this room was to be used for filming. Low level 54mm heating mains were installed in copper and braised and left uninsulated so that when the copper dulled over time it fitted in with the fabric of the building and didn't look out of place. The client selected cast rads and heritage valves that kept the installation in keeping with the surroundings. The result was a fully functioning system that was hidden from the eye, leading to a satisfied customer.