ACS delivered comprehensive design and construction management for Whirlpool’s 97,000 SF renovation, transforming a former manufacturing space into a centralized refrigerator testing facility. The project integrated specialized testing infrastructure, including two new precision acoustic test chamber enclosures, mechanical support for 68 high-density thermal chambers, and a dedicated reverb room.
A global leader in home appliances, Whirlpool Corporation, initiated a strategic relocation of its refrigeration testing capabilities, requiring the comprehensive renovation of 97,000 SF within a 156,000 SF former manufacturing building at their global headquarters. The client faced the complex challenge of transforming an inert industrial space into a state-of-the-art product development and approval laboratory environment. This required the seamless integration of highly sensitive testing infrastructure, including two new high-precision acoustic test chamber enclosures and extensive mechanical support systems for 68 thermal chambers. The primary constraint was executing a rapid, design-build project that ensured high standards of precision testing, specifically in the specialized environments like the reverb room, while managing the construction across a vast existing structural footprint with minimal disruption to ongoing campus operations.
ACS was awarded a single-source contract to deliver a complete turnkey solution covering the design and construction management for the facility’s transformation. This comprehensive scope included renovating the 97,000 SF space and installing all specialized laboratory systems essential for product performance testing. A core element was the integration of new acoustic infrastructure, specifically designing and building two dedicated acoustic test chamber spaces capable of measuring multiple appliance types, alongside the relocation of an existing prefabricated acoustic space to maintain testing consistency.
ACS engineered the mechanical infrastructure necessary to support 68 high-density thermal chambers, which are critical for refrigeration development and product approval testing cycles. The renovation encompassed the construction of a specialized reverb room and other diverse laboratory spaces, including a model shop, electronics lab, and a 3D printing facility, ensuring a holistic product development environment. The single-source delivery minimized interface risk and streamlined coordination between facility systems and integrated equipment, including the new acoustic test chamber installations.
ACS successfully delivered a fully commissioned and modern testing and development facility, enabling Whirlpool Corporation to consolidate its refrigeration testing operations efficiently at its headquarters. The project successfully integrated highly technical environments, ranging from the mechanical systems supporting 68 thermal chambers used for rigorous product validation to the precision sound measurement facilitated by the new reverb room. The consolidated environment streamlined the product approval cycle by providing centralized access to all necessary engineering support spaces. The robust design and construction management allowed for the seamless installation of all critical equipment, including the complex infrastructure required for the multiple acoustic test chamber locations. This flexible and high-performance laboratory environment ensures that Whirlpool maintains continuous, high-integrity testing capabilities, supporting future innovation and faster time-to-market for new refrigeration products. The successful delivery of the reverb room and surrounding test areas now provides Whirlpool with a flexible, long-term asset.