Valencia Opera House

Valencia's magnificent opera house, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, designed by world-renowned local architect Santiago Calatrava, has a total area of more than 40,000 square metres.

The challenge

Valencia's magnificent opera house, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, designed by world-renowned local architect Santiago Calatrava, has a total area of more than 40,000 square metres.

Four different theatres seat between 400 and 1,700 people each and then there are backstage areas, dressing rooms, restaurants and many other rooms. These various areas have very different heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) needs during the course of the day, creating great complexity for indoor climate specialists.

The Hydronic Challenge

Valencia's magnificent opera house, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, designed by world-renowned local architect Santiago Calatrava, has a total area of more than 40,000 square metres. Four different theatres seat between 400 and 1,700 people each and then there are backstage areas, dressing rooms, restaurants and many other rooms. These various areas have very different heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) needs during the course of the day, creating great complexity for indoor climate specialists.

The solution

To improve energy efficiency, the system was designed to use sea water. IMI Hydronic Engineering was asked for a solution that would solve the building​'s diverse and demanding cooling and heating needs using this unusual fluid.

Relying on its vast experience and with the help of its Hydronic College, IMI Hydronic Engineering came up with the simplest possible variable flow system that would solve the problem of providing just the right amount of heat or cooling to each indoor space, whether theatre hall or dressing room. Even this solution required more than 500 balancing valves and devices from DN 20 to DN 300. IMI Hydronic Engineering also selected software appropriate for the job and supplied training so that the HVAC system will run smoothly for years to come.​

Facts

Project type
Culture
Building
Palau De Les Arts Reina Sofia Opera House
Location
Valencia, Spain
Consultant
ICA and Grupo TEC​​

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