Leaning on experience and data from various K-12 cities and projects, the authors pursue some less conventional design approaches. They may revolve around radiant heating and/or cooling, but depending on school size and other factors, the smart use of heat recovery, DOAS, and improved central plants could also put a project on the HVAC honor roll.
As an engineer there are two choices — improve the “norm” or forge ahead with something new or borrowed from previous generations. Prior to Willis Carrier providing the first air conditioned building in 1904, building cooling relied on the environment, natural convection, and building mass to keep the occupants as comfortable as possible. What would happen if we push that old world envelope design tighter to make it more comfortable and consistent throughout the year by adding refrigerated cooling, heating, and diversity of the system by using a central cooling system?
Diversity is achieved by centralizing compressor cooling to allow for more turndown and thermal flywheel than individual systems serving individual rooms.