Touted as the 'first-of-its-kind shipping container business park', the Box Office Warehouse Suites (BOWS) in Fort Worth, Texas, is a unique and affordable commercial lease space constructed solely of shipping containers. Suites range from 320 to 2,240 square feet in size and house retail, offices, salons, artist studios, and more.
small warehouse
“The Box Office Warehouse Suites were conceived to allow someone to have a smaller warehouse with an office. We designed it to have less expensive rent and smaller, more unique spaces,” said Ron Sturgeon, Developer and President of RDS Investment & Ron Sturgeon Real Estate LP.
Ron Sturgeon adds, "Upstairs there are full restrooms, so the spaces resemble a loft. They appeal to an artsy, creative crowd, and we love being able to support small, local businesses.”
Project Highlights
BOWS is flexible, energy-efficient, secure, and features high-quality finishes, making it ideal for small businesses
Made from 154 shipping containers, BOWS features bold, inviting colors, glazed storefronts for added visibility, outdoor patios, and a grassy area.
As a part of the Fort Worth Design District, the 40-acre 'business enclave made for creative entrepreneurs', BOWS is flexible, energy-efficient, secure, and features high-quality finishes, making it the ideal location for small businesses.
Need for energy-efficient spaces
It was essential to Sturgeon that each office suite have individual comfort and control to ensure owners and their customers could create and conduct business in an environment that allowed them to be most productive. Plus, it was important that the space is as energy efficient as possible, both to reduce utility bills and have a positive effect on the environment.
Having worked with LG’s HVAC products on several other projects, including his own home, Sturgeon specified LG’s Art Cool™ Gallery and Art Cool™ Mirror Indoor Units, Multi F Outdoor Units, and High-Efficiency Single Zone Inverter Outdoor Units for the Box Office Warehouse Suites.
Design and installation
The project was in the very early stages of design and installation when Sturgeon reached out to Fort Worth-based AC Supply to review the plan and provide input for the installing contractor, Hurst, Texas-based American Air & Heat Co.
"This is one of the fastest-growing areas in Tarrant County, and many businesses are coming here for a dedicated workspace or a place to have meetings while they continue working from home. BOWS offers a different kind of vibe with the bright colors of the container and graffiti on the exterior," said Jim Eaton, Vice President – Real Estate Operations for RDS Real Estate.
Challenges
Temperatures in Fort Worth can get extremely high in the summer and relatively low during the winterTemperatures in Fort Worth can get extremely high in the summer and relatively low during the winter, so HVAC plays an essential role in business owners’ and customers’ comfort.
“When (RDS Real Estate LP) started building and leasing properties, we began with salons in typical shopping centers and other buildings that used conventional heating and cooling,” said Sturgeon.
HVAC solution
Additionally, according to Sturgeon, the tenants at BOWS tend to skew younger and are more passionate about green initiatives, making energy efficiency top-of-mind for many.
"We quickly got a good deal of feedback from the tenants because one stylist would want her room to be cool, and another would want the room to be hot. So, when designing and constructing BOWS, we knew we needed an HVAC solution that could address individual comfort needs and hotspots," said Ron Sturgeon, Developer, and President of RDS Investment & Ron Sturgeon Real Estate LP.
Solution
Ultimately, the project team specified individual duct-free mini-split HVAC units in each tenant space, along with a compatible outdoor heat pump, a more cost-effective and energy-efficient solution than a conventional air conditioning system.
“A large number of the HVAC units used at the Box Office Warehouse Suites were the LG Art Cool Gallery units, which were a clever concept for the tenants that occupy those spaces as they could remove the LG-provided art in the front and display their own art or pricing menu,” said Garrett Davis, Construction Supervisor and Owner, Davis Commercial Services.
LG Art Cool Gallery
The Art Cool Gallery self-cleaning coils allow for easy maintenance, which is ideal for the small business owners
The LG Art Cool Gallery is the industry’s only picture frame air conditioner, allowing end-users to customize their indoor unit with an image of their choosing.
It is designed to mount elegantly on a wall and is available in 9,000 and 12,000 Btu/h options. In addition, the Art Cool Gallery self-cleaning coils allow for easy maintenance, which is ideal for the small business owners at BOWS.
LG duct-free Art Cool Mirror units
The LG duct-free Art Cool Mirror units used on BOWS range from 9,000 to 12,000 Btu/h capacities. They feature a sleek, smoked-glass mirrored finish that resembles stainless steel and energy-efficient inverter technology.
The duct-free application allows tenants to heat and cool individual spaces to their preferred comfort levels with natural airflow and auto operation modes. In addition, LG duct-free systems are designed for easier and more efficient installation, and most indoor units can mount on virtually any wall.
Result
By using the LG duct-free mini-splits throughout BOWS, Sturgeon was able to provide individual comfort to tenants and increase energy efficiency. Additionally, business owners obtained sleek and unique units that are easy to maintain and offer a high level of control.
Putting an individual unit in each room is less expensive and much more energy efficient"
"In addition to the efficiency and temperature control, the individual AC units have become a selling point for the Box Office Warehouse Suites. Ultimately, putting an individual unit in each room is less expensive and much more energy efficient than traditional HVAC, which can help reduce electricity bills,” said Ron Sturgeon.
Temperature and comfort
He adds, “That is huge for us because the tenants pay their electric bills, and as small entrepreneurs, they are sensitive to this major expense and the overall energy efficiency of their spaces."
"And the business owners enjoy having control of the artwork in the unit as well the temperature and comfort in their hands," continues Ron Sturgeon, Developer and President of RDS Investment & Ron Sturgeon Real Estate LP.