The retrofit of a 25-yr-old conventional indoor city recreation center proved to be a psychometrics and logistics challenge, according to the project’s engineer and mechanical contractor.
Retrofitting more than a half-million square feet of heavily used space for better life safety coverage is never simple. Peculiarities of building design and existing materials only made the task tougher for this project team as they sought to integrate NFPA and GSA requirements into a successful and safe solution.
In a campus environment over time, it’s not hard to lose control of the controls. When you tackle the situation for the long-term good, take time to create a master plan. Get a few tips on that here
In a campus environment over time, it’s not hard to lose control of the controls. When you tackle the situation for the long-term good, take time to create a master plan. Get a few tips on that here, and then move on to issues such as protocols, access, graphics, and trending. Your best possible BAS is not out of reach.
The city of Côte Saint Luc in Quebec recently opened its new Aquatic and Community Centre with a cost of $18 million. While this may seem like a hefty price tag, the city will be saving millions of dollars on energy costs, thanks in part to the center’s HVAC system.
The American Swedish Institute looked homeward to plan for its future, using geothermal technology to achieve high-performance energy solutions in an urban setting.
Reflecting a long-established Swedish commitment to environmental stewardship, the Nelson Cultural Center addition at the American Swedish Institute (ASI) in Minneapolis integrates several technically advanced sustainable features, including a high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system that reduces energy consumption by nearly 30 percent (based on an ASHRAE 90.1 baseline) while supporting the Institute’s diverse community programming.
With a collaborative design approach and the choice to forego networking protocols, this nuclear facility’s controls upgrade points toward an atypical alternate for success.
The procurement process used by the U.S. government (or its contractor) can follow one of several different paths. Usually, an equipment specification is written that contains performance criteria and other requirements. A solicitation is then released and potential sellers competitively bid for the work.
The author’s longtime interest in bundling efficiency techniques in a single system eventually led him to a new pairing: VRF zoning technology and geothermal design. See how he got there and how this couple played out for an historic 107-year-old Iowa courthouse that serves the law through the area’s brutal winters and humid summers.
Wood pellet boilers were a key innovative component of the recent $4.7 million upgrade at the Ketchikan Federal Building in Ketchikan, AK. The 1930s-era, six-story building had a 47-yr-old steam boiler system that was at the end of its useful life and was providing inconsistent heat to the building.
What does a full-scale modernization on a 90-yr-old federal building and courthouse look like when it aims for federal energy goals and LEED status? Chiller plant and hot water/boiler overhauls are just the start. Aggressive lighting and water treatment/conservation strategies also contribute to the GSA’s effort to throw the book at this Alabama retrofit.