A　hybrid　evaporative　pre-cooled　air-conditioning　system　has　been　proposed　for　operation　in　humid　tropical　climatic　conditions.　The　indirect　evaporative　heat　exchanger　(IEHX)　works　in　tandem　with　a　conventional　air　handling　unit　(AHU).　The　IEHX　operates　as　an　evaporative-enhanced　heat　recovery　device　to　treat　the　ambient　intake　air.　An　experimental　study　has　been　carried　out　to　systematically　investigate　the　performance　of　a　lab-scale　IEHX　when　combined　with　a　chiller　under　steady-state　conditions.　In　addition,　a　mathematical　model　is　judiciously　developed　for　both　the　IEHX　and　cooling　coil.　Key　results　have　indicated　that　the　IEHX　is　capable　of　pre-cooling　and　pre-dehumidifying　the　ambient　intake　air.　In　addition,　the　pre-cooling　process　facilitates　the　supply　of　a　higher　chilled　water　supply　temperature　to　meet　cooling　needs　particularly　at　higher　outdoor　air　fractions.　Finally,　the　hybrid　evaporative　pre-cooled　air-conditioning　system　is　evaluated　in　terms　of　its　energy　consumption　performance　based　on　a　design　day　weather　condition.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.