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Topvex and Geniox Units Fill Ventilation, Space Needs for Velodrome Project
Reading time: 2.5 minutes
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There’s something wonderfully distinctive about a Velodrome. Used for competitive indoor cycling, velodrome arenas typically boast an oval shape indicative of the sleek, slanted track inside. And the Vélodrome Sylvan Adams-Centre Multisports Desjardins, completed in 2022 in Bromont, Quebec, is no exception.
While the 250-meter track is the defining feature, the venue hosts a range of other sports, including a BMX pump track and pickleball courts, as well as gathering spaces and a few offices. The modern exterior features a curving façade and broad expanses of glass on lower and upper levels that flood interior spaces with light.
The challenge then becomes: How do you properly ventilate a space for athletes without ruining its clean, compact lines?
Proper Ventilation a Must
Anyone who has worked out with any intensity knows that sports generate a lot of intense breathing and hot air. Even before the COVID era, ventilation has been a key element to ensuring athletes can compete at peak performance as well as keeping participants and visitors healthy and comfortable.
But the velodrome’s shape, size, and volume presented a set of challenges. The cavernous space required a volume of air distribution only attainable by multiple systems, and the curves of the oval shape meant simple straight-line ducts weren’t an option. To protect the integrity of the design, air handling units could not be placed on the roof, and, inside, the low roof height created compact space requirements.
All of these issues pointed toward a need for a decentralized approach to the ventilation system rather than a singular large air-handling unit.
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Five Topvex energy recovery ventilators were installed, along with one Geniox 20 makeup air system, to provide the fresh air for the cycling track. Where most ERVs with a thermal wheel have a side or side and top discharge, Systemair’s Topvex TR4000 compact ERV has a top discharge that allowed it to be placed under the tracks where space is limited. The Geniox unit was chosen because it has a much larger airflow range (up to 22,000 cfm) and can be used as an MUA (make-up air) system that provides straight fresh air (no recovery); for this project it was scheduled at 10,000 cfm.
In addition, Topvex units come standard with back filters, an essential element for this venue.
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Enertrak, the Sales Engineer for the project, has installed Topvex on a number of projects. One of the velodrome’s project engineers saw a demonstration unit at an Enertrak customer event, and was intrigued by its quality, strong filtration, and top connection, which eventually led to specification of the system for the Velodrome complex.
“We sell a lot of Topvex units—they’re very reliable,” said Daniel Giroux, Vice President of Sales for Enertrak’s Quebec region. “We’ve never received bad feedback, and this project was no exception.”
Ready to get started on a new project? Contact your Systemair rep here.
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