24 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I February 2026
PROJECT project
THE GREAT SPLIT UNIT EXODUS: A WEMBLEY SQUARE STORY
By Richard Burke, operations director: RPM Consulting Engineers
This was one of those rare projects that felt almost mythical in scale and pace.
Wembley Square is a modern mixed-use development located in the vibrant Gardens area of Cape Town. The complex offers a blend of commercial office spaces, retail outlets and residential apartments. This well-established precinct is known for its contemporary design, premium location and vibrant atmosphere, making it a sought-after destination for businesses and professionals. The area enables people to work, live, shop, eat and play, with easy access to the Cape Town CBD and surrounding suburbs.
Imagine an emperor announcing:“ Build me a stadium for my people – vast, modern and ready for the future. But you have only a short time and no room for excuses.” That’ s exactly how it felt. The‘ stadium’ in this case was a 20 000m ² commercial building, originally cooled by hundreds of split units scattered across every floor. The challenge: replace this patchwork with a modern VRF system across the entire building, along with toilet extraction and mechanical fresh air – and do it in record time.
PROJECT START AND COMPLETION The project ran on a timeline far shorter than any conventional HVAC refurbishment of this magnitude. Where most projects of this scale would take at least nine months, even a year, this was delivered in a compressed, high-pressure window of five months, with 60 % needing to be completed in two months. Access was given at midnight on the 31 December 2024, and Phase 1 needed to be completed by midnight on the 28 February 2025. Phase 2 needed to be completed by midnight on the 31 May 2025. There were huge contractual letting implications if this was not achieved. The pace was relentless – day after day, floor after floor – yet the finish line was crossed on time.
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS / CLIENT BRIEF OF THE PROJECT
The client’ s brief was clear and ambitious:
• Replace ageing, inefficient split units with a fully integrated VRF system, floor by floor
• Improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on harmful refrigerants
• Make the ventilation compliant
• Achieve all of the above under extreme time pressure
All images supplied by RPM Consulting Engineers
Work in progress.
24 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I February 2026