San Diego November 13, 2024
The only air purification system on the planet that kills COVID-19, its variants, and SARS, was recently installed in a local commercial building – the first time this new cutting-edge technology has been installed in a commercial space – thanks to a partnership between AVRP Studios, TWA Engineering Group, and Hummingbird™ EQ.
Hummingbird is an air quality monitoring system installed in existing HVAC systems. Its parent company, Energy Cloud, is a clean-tech firm based in San Diego.
The Hummingbird system is new technology that has been used in some homes and in some spaces with high air quality standards, including food processing facilities. The system was recently installed by the San Diego Padres in the team locker rooms at Petco Park. The installation at the new AVRP-designed Conrad Prebys Foundation offices on the top floor of the Kettner & Ash building is the first commercial use of the new technology.
“It does not consume any more energy from the system,” said Chris Veum, President of AVRP Studios. “In fact, it helps HVAC systems operate more efficiently because it helps the airflow in the system.”
On average, it costs about $4 a square foot to install the system, Veum said. Price is determined by square footage of a building. “It pays for itself in the form of fewer sick days. The purity of the air creates a healthier organization and less costs to the company. Healthy environments also are attractive to job seekers, especially the younger generations.”
The coolest feature is the most obvious one. “It doesn’t just trap COVID and SARS viruses like some other systems. It kills them. It’s the only system in the world that does so,” Veum said.
“The Hummingbird™ system does not need alteration to handle variants. It has proven to effectively handle any variant we tested, therefore making it a good long-term solution and investment to protect buildings,” said John Carrieri, CEO of Hummingbird™.
AVRP recently designed the new Prebys Foundation offices, where the Hummingbird system was installed in July, shortly after the Padres started using it in their locker rooms at Petco Park in downtown San Diego.
“AVRP is the only architect that is licensed to integrate the Hummingbird system in its designs,” Veum said.
With the new Prebys office space, the client asked AVRP to put wellness and comfort at the forefront of its design. “So we designed the space so everyone has access to light and view. There’s so much glass in this space that you can sit in the innermost conference room and you can see out to the San Diego Bay,” Veum said.
AVRP incorporated contiguous uninterrupted spaces in the design. “We call them ‘Alleys of Light’ and they crisscross the space north and south and east and west,” Veum said. “The Hummingbird system was a perfect fit for this space because wellness was a top priority for the client.”
AVRP was introduced to the Hummingbird system two years ago through Veum’s relationship with Dr. Mark Shoukry, CEO of TWA Engineering Group.
“This is top-notch technology the world has ever known for air quality,” Shourky said, noting the Hummingbird system also cleans the air by killing a long list of pollutants, including formaldehyde and carbon dioxide.
MEDIA CONTACT:Tony Manolatos, tony@manolatospa.com
About AVRP Studios: Celebrating 45+ years of creativity and achievements, the firm and its principals have earned more than 150 design awards, including multiple Gold Nugget Grand Awards from PCBC, a list that includes Grand Awards in 2023 and 2022. AVRP originated in 1976, when Doug Austin began a small design firm out of his home. Today, the firm has designed numerous iconic projects both domestically and internationally. The firm’s project types include urban infill, mixed-use, housing, education, corporate office, multigenerational space, healthcare and more. The firm is led by three principals: Douglas H. Austin, FAIA, LEED AP, MAIBC; Christopher T. Veum, AAIA, IIDA; and Randy Robbins, AIA, LEED AP. Visit www.avrpstudios.com to learn more.
About TWA Engineering Group: With more than 25 years of experience in the engineering world, including the establishment of engineering groups for national and international firms, TWA helps clients accelerate design production with tight schedules. The firm is led by Dr. Mark Shoukry, CEO. An experienced Engineering Director, Dr. Shoukry specializes in development and project planning as well as mechanical engineering with a focus on project management with large budgets, mechanical design, and energy analysis. Visit www.twaenggroup.com to learn more.
About Hummingbird™ EQ (Equilibrium): Hummingbird is a complete HVAC management and air purification system which helps engineering, facility directors and asset managers manage their HVAC systems to deliver heating, cooling and superior air quality while saving energy and extending the life of the equipment investment. EQ keeps your HVAC and air environment in perfect equilibrium. Hummingbird EQ utilizes Ai, IOT and real-time data collection along with the latest in indoor air quality monitoring and air purification technology. Scales to any size HVAC unit. Visit www.energycloudinc.com to learn more.