When independent Rolls-Royce Motor Cars franchise P&A Wood built a new showroom the utmost care and consideration had to go into specifying a heating system.
Situated in Dunmow, Essex, P&A Wood is the only independent Rolls-Royce Motor Cars franchise in the UK. The grassroots British business offers not only the sales of Rolls-Royce cars, but restorations, repairs and is even able to source or manufacture difficult to find parts. It is also said to be the only authorised UK dealer to specialise in the entire range of Rolls Royce and Bentley cars spanning more than 100 years.
“Our motto is attention to detail. With Rolls-Royce, you get what you want,” explains Tim Mason, head of business at P&A Wood. “While this ethos has transcended into our modern range offering, we still wanted to separate the classic from the current, showcasing our move into the 21st Century.”
To define the old from the new, P&A Wood built a new showroom which sits across the road from the original. This new build hosts the range of modern Rolls-Royce motor cars, while the classics – dating back to 1904 – remain in the original building.
While the exterior was built to mirror the original showroom and portray a ‘best of both worlds’ offering, the new build was based on the Rolls-Royce Dealership Brand Appearance Corporate Identity Guidelines – specifically outlining the guidelines for the vision and principles of the Rolls- Royce Motor Cars dealership and how the brand should be presented through the showroom . Or, as the guidelines state “a showcase that reflects the superlative qualities of the vehicles. In short, a setting for perfection.”
These guidelines focus on the use of natural elements such as stone sculptures and plants, sophistication of even the finest of details, classy lighting and elegant finishes and furnishings. So when it came to specifying a heating system for the new showroom, the utmost thought and careful consideration had to be put into the decision. “We needed a heating system that would blend faultlessly with the rest of the showroom’s interior,” explained Tim. “Every detail had to be thoroughly considered. Not only how effective and efficient the system would be, but how it would look.”
While a powerful yet unobtrusive heating system was a priority, energy-efficiency was also very important to ensure the showroom would achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. As a result, Jaga Heating Products’ HVAC specialists worked closely with Cosgrove Construction during the site survey, and were able to specify a suitable heating solution in the Jaga Mini Canal and Strada radiators – achieving not only the technical requirements of the new build, but aesthetically, identifying with the clean-cut image of the Rolls-Royce brand.
Sitting flush with the floor, the introduction of Jaga’s Mini Canal trench heating bordered the complete perimeter of the new showroom, with a total of 48 metres installed. As the showroom facades are predominantly made of glass, this approach not only ensures effective space heating, but reduces heat loss through the glazing – as well as eliminating condensation. Additionally, the trench units were delivered to P&A Wood fully assembled, factory pressure-tested, and beneath the grilles feature Jaga’s Low-H2O heat exchanger – offering rapid yet regulated heating at a reaction time that is three times faster than the performance of an ordinary radiator.
As well as the clean-cut finish of the aluminium grilles meeting with high Rolls-Royce design standards, Jaga found another trait in common with the car manufacturer in the offering of bespoke designing to suit its customer requirements. Due to the nature of the site, where cars are forever being moved and transferred in and out of the showroom, the trench units installed across door openings were strengthened to withstand a vehicle being driven over them. “Just as we like to tell our customers ‘we will customise our products to suit what you want,’ Jaga offered the same level service in providing a solution that would meet our unique requirements,” Tim said. Furthermore, the grilles were mitred in parts to allow a continuous line to border the showroom.
Finally, behind the polished wood customer service desk, sit two Jaga Strada DBE radiators. The Strada units, which feature Jaga’s Dynamic Boost Effect technology to provide an instant boost of heat when required, were selected for their quiet fan noise. Reaching less than 35dB(A) when on boost mode, the DBE unit fans are quieter than a domestic refrigerator. “We wanted fan-assisted radiators but without any disruptive noise that could affect our customers’ experience,” says Tim. Additionally, while providing powerful heating, the Stradas’ slim-line design realise the Rolls-Royce brand vision, while sitting unobtrusively in the background.”