High-rise housing: why HVAC must be planned before the first slab goes up

In a high-rise development, air conditioning tends to be one of the last things anyone thinks about… and one of the first things the buyer notices. An apartment that overheats, intrusive noise or outdoor units that ruin the facade are problems born of a decision taken — or not taken — at the start of the project.

Climate control in towers has its own logic. Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems have become the standard because they let you condition many apartments independently and efficiently, taking up little space and reducing consumption by adjusting to the real demand of each unit. But they require preparation: pipe routing, equipment space, access panels and, above all, coordination with the structure and facades from the design stage.

Clio's portfolio in high-rise housing speaks for itself. At YU Country, an award-winning development in Miami recognized in 2022 with the LADI award for best high-rise housing project in Latin America, we installed the provisions for 616 tons of air conditioning. At DUO24 (Guadalajara), provisions for 1,653 tons across 285 apartments with retail space and amenities. At Torre Via del Bosque, 1,728 tons of variable refrigerant flow for 166 AAA apartments. And projects such as Torre MM, Torre Masaya and High Tower round out the list.

The message for developers is direct: leaving HVAC to “sort out at the end” almost always costs more, limits the design and shows in the resident's experience. Planning it from the concept stage protects the facade, the budget and the sale value.