An atmospheric cooling tower apparatus, comprising: a housing means having an air inlet and an air outlet; a first evaporative heat transfer means disposed in the housing; a closed coil heat transfer means disposed in the housing; a first water distribution means disposed above the first evaporative heat transfer means configured to distribute water onto the first evaporative fill heat transfer fill means; a first collection means disposed beneath the first evaporative heat transfer means configured to collect water that has passed through the first evaporative heat transfer means; wherein: it also comprises a first control valve means that controls an inflow of water to supply water to one or both of the first evaporative heat transfer means and the closed coil heat transfer means, the first control valve means having one position where a first fraction of the water is supplied to the first evaporative heat transfer means, and another position where a second fraction of the water is supplied to the closed coil heat transfer means; the closed coil heat transfer means and the first evaporative heat transfer means are disposed laterally next to each other, a first air path being defined between the first water distribution means and the first collection means, through the first evaporative heat transfer means, and through the closed coil heat transfer means; it also comprises a second evaporative heat transfer means disposed beneath the first collection means, and a second collection means below the second evaporative heat transfer means, a second air path being defined between the first and second collection means beneath the first air path and through the second evaporative heat transfer means, the first collection means also being configured as a second water distribution means to distribute collected water onto the second evaporative heat transfer means; and it also comprises a second control valve means that directs water exiting the closed coil heat transfer means into either the first collection means or the second collection means. a housing means having an air inlet and an air outlet; a first evaporative heat transfer means disposed in the housing; a closed coil heat transfer means disposed in the housing; a first water distribution means disposed above the first evaporative heat transfer means configured to distribute water onto the first evaporative fill heat transfer fill means; a first collection means disposed beneath the first evaporative heat transfer means configured to collect water that has passed through the first evaporative heat transfer means; it also comprises a first control valve means that controls an inflow of water to supply water to one or both of the first evaporative heat transfer means and the closed coil heat transfer means, the first control valve means having one position where a first fraction of the water is supplied to the first evaporative heat transfer means, and another position where a second fraction of the water is supplied to the closed coil heat transfer means; the closed coil heat transfer means and the first evaporative heat transfer means are disposed laterally next to each other, a first air path being defined between the first water distribution means and the first collection means, through the first evaporative heat transfer means, and through the closed coil heat transfer means; it also comprises a second evaporative heat transfer means disposed beneath the first collection means, and a second collection means below the second evaporative heat transfer means, a second air path being defined between the first and second collection means beneath the first air path and through the second evaporative heat transfer means, the first collection means also being configured as a second water distribution means to distribute collected water onto the second evaporative heat transfer means; and it also comprises a second control valve means that directs water exiting the closed coil heat transfer means into either the first collection means or the second collection means.