MVHR Installation: 4x Lossnay Units at Garrick Playhouse

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Theatres present some of the trickiest ventilation challenges in commercial buildings, and the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse was no exception. The venue needed improved air quality and comfort for audiences without compromising the character of its historic roof space, which led to a demanding MVHR units installation carried out by Atmostherm’s engineering team.

Good ventilation isn’t just a comfort issue in a packed auditorium. Stale air, rising CO2 levels and temperature swings can quickly affect how an audience experiences a performance, so the Garrick’s management wanted a solution that would freshen the air throughout the building while keeping energy use under control.

The challenge: fitting large plant into a tight roof space

The brief called for four Mitsubishi Lossnay MVHR units, each weighing around 200kg, to be installed within the ceiling void above the auditorium. As the photos show, this meant working high in the roof structure, navigating timber trusses, brickwork gables and limited headroom, all while keeping the historic building fabric intact.

Moving units of this size into a confined loft space is never straightforward. Every unit had to be manoeuvred carefully along the roof void, positioned precisely on bespoke platforms, and connected into a network of insulated ductwork that would distribute fresh, tempered air throughout the theatre.

The Atmostherm approach

Our engineers planned the installation in detail before any equipment arrived on site, mapping out access routes, lifting points and the final position of each unit to minimise disruption to the venue’s operating schedule. With four heavy units to install, sequencing the work correctly was essential to keep the job moving efficiently.

Engineering the ductwork runs

Once the Lossnay units were in place, the team will be running insulated ductwork across the roof space, connecting each unit into the building’s ventilation network. The ducting is to be carefully routed around the existing roof trusses and brickwork, keeping air paths as direct as possible while protecting the structure above and below.

Heat recovery for energy efficiency

Mitsubishi Lossnay units recover heat from extracted air and use it to pre-condition incoming fresh air, cutting the energy needed to maintain comfortable temperatures. For a public building like a theatre, where occupancy and heat loads can change rapidly between performances, this heat recovery capability helps balance comfort with running costs.

Key elements of the installation included:

• Four 200kg Mitsubishi Lossnay MVHR units lifted and positioned within the roof void
• Insulated ductwork routed carefully around existing timber trusses and brick gables
• Access platforms and walkways built to allow safe ongoing maintenance
• Careful sequencing to protect the historic building fabric throughout the works

The outcome

Despite the physical challenges of the site, the team completed the entire MVHR units installation ahead of schedule. The Garrick Playhouse now benefits from a modern mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system that delivers fresher air to theatre goers while recovering energy that would otherwise be lost.

The result is a more comfortable auditorium environment, achieved without disrupting the character of the building or the venue’s programme of performances. It’s a good example of how thoughtful planning and experienced engineering can deliver complex plant installations in spaces that were never designed with modern HVAC in mind.

If you’re considering a similar upgrade, our

Project photos

Four large Mitsubishi Lossnay MVHR units installed in the roof void of Altrincham Garrick Playhouse