Charleston Tech Center To Install Medical-Grade Filtration System

The  Charleston Tech Center has confirmed that it will install a medical-grade air filtration and UV light system to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other pathogens through its ventilation system.

The system includes active electrostatic MERV 15 system-wide filtration, akin to what surgery centers and medical facilities routinely install to prevent the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses from room-to-room or patient-to-patient. A bank of UV lights will further treat air flow for any remaining pathogens and also reduce mold counts and dust, providing a much cleaner air system. The technology is A-rated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

"This is part of our overall response to the pandemic," said John Hand, CEO of Iron Bridge Capital Partners, the developer and managing partner of the Charleston Tech Center.

In addition to the air treatment system, the Charleston Tech Center will institute more traditional COVID-19 protocols, such as hand sanitizer stations in the lobby and at each elevator, add touchless faucets, establish limits on elevator occupancy, have recommended maximum occupancies for shared conference rooms, and strongly encourage mask use in all common areas.

Scheduled to open in Q4 2020, the Charleston Tech Center comprises 92,000 square feet, including office, first floor retail, a linear public park and an 812-space parking garage operated by the City of Charleston. "The personal safety of our residents is paramount to us," said Ernest Andrade, Director of the Charleston Digital Corridor, the Charleston Tech Center's anchor tenant. "We are extremely pleased to offer this distinctive personal safety advantage to anyone who selects our building as their workplace home."

"Our approach and early adoption of clean air technologies has been well received by our tech tenants, and we have continued to attract new companies throughout this crisis," said Hand. "We are not aware of any other office buildings in the market with this technology."