In today’s world, so-called “high-performance, sustainable” facilities are a dime a dozen. But many of these buildings rely on overly complex mechanical systems to carry out their mission. While these systems may meet design requirements, they routinely fall short of performance expectations — a direct result of the mismatch between elaborate systems and the often-limited resources of the facilities personnel expected to operate them.
When Wood Harbinger took on the mechanical engineering design for the renovation of Seattle’s iconic Chief Sealth International High School, it faced a number of challenges. Not only would the design firm need to honor the design of a beloved school that had educated generations of Seattleites, but it would be creating a sustainable heating that would also support a new Denny Middle School on the same campus. By joining skill with a good deal of creativity, Wood Harbinger delivered a system that is easy to maintain and drastically improves energy efficiency.