When it came to the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis, the project team was the one delivering the goods. Given the daunting task of preserving flexibility for a facility that could research anything from alcoholism to RFID tags, the team responded with a high-efficiency design led by an underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system. See how the versatility of UFAD solved some problems but its relative rarity invited another. It wasn't done overnight, but the end product met the challenges for supporting tomorrow's innovations.
What if you adjust the hours, not the load? What if you focus less on a setpoint and more on the ideal working relationships between equipment in a system? Why is the flow distributor a critical part of an above-ground TES tank? This California facility asked and answered all that and more as it tore down its chiller plant and bet its energy budget on thermal storage and an unorthodox controls philosophy.
When the University of Minnesota decided to centralize its chiller system, it immediately faced a tall task: retrofitting an existing building to handle its new life as a central plant. Elsewhere, the project also meant tasks such as installing piping and switching to a variable-volume approach. However, as the staff meets with early success and reaps benefits like improved data collection, they're glad they decided to Gopher it.
Hotels are some of the most difficult buildings to renovate, because there is never any downtime. Visitors can be found in the lounges, corridors, and guest rooms 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, leaving little time for engineers or contractors to repair broken equipment, let alone install new mechanical systems.
Seasonal occupancy and district budget pressures are two hurdles in the average school's quest for good IAQ. Add stodgy design attitudes, or outside air arriving in adequate amounts but receiving inadequate conditioning, and the assignment gets even tougher. Here, several industry experts weigh in about the perpetual problems and sensible solutions.
Clearview Elementary School in Hanover, PA, was designed first and foremost to help children succeed academically. School district officials were well aware of the scientific studies conducted by the California Board for Energy Efficiency, which showed learning rates, as measured by test scores, were 16% to 26% higher in classrooms with daylighting. In addition, they knew that proper ventilation was crucial in helping students and teachers stay healthy, alert, and focused on learning.
The first green residential high-rise to be constructed in the United States. Downtown Manhattan's first new residential construction completed since September 2001. Those distinctions make The Solaire at 20 River Terrace a pioneer project, but it also sets itself apart with attention to IAQ. Multi-level humidification and ventilation systems supply filtered fresh air to each unit, but occupants can also opt for operable windows, if they prefer. Come in and enjoy the view of smart IAQ in action.
How did Chicago's City Hall get through last winter without opening any steam valves until it was 10 degrees outside? The answer is part of the ambitious set of projects undertaken by this year's AHR host city. A new BAS was just the start, followed by motor overhauls, video coordinating with HVAC and life safety, and improved metering.
When it comes to cleanup after Katrina and Rita, the task is indeed big in terms of health ramifications and square footage, but there isn't much easy about it at all. Industry experts weigh in here on the tall task of ensuring that commercial occupants can breathe easy during and after rebuilding. By Joanna Turpin
You might expect a retail electronics corporation to employ a forward-thinking approach for the design and integration of its new headquarters. And you'd be right. Vendors as design team members, a lack of changeorder surprises, and an unusually fluid strategy for getting on the fast track are just three of the ways the company got its facility plugged in for success. By Joanna Turpin