These days, everyone seems to want a smart building, but taking the desire for a smart building and turning it into a design is difficult to say the least.

Last month, I discussed the benefits of HVAC infrastructure design-build (DB) opportunities for HVAC consulting firms and HVAC contractors. The two main reasons for pursuing DB HVAC infrastructure projects were twofold:

Honestly, the definition of open systems is the most confusing of the three types. Open protocols are pretty straight forward — they’re protocols that communicate with one another.

Much has been written about systems’ readiness for functional performance testing at the end of construction, and pre-functional checklists have become common elements of the commissioning process.

For years, I worked for a mechanical contracting company that shifted its business plan from design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery to design-build (DB) project delivery. The move became very obvious as the optimum way to provide HVAC services.

KAI has appointed Matt Westphal as president of KAI Design and KAI Engineering.

This month’s Facility File is based on a new 40,000-square-foot office building HVAC system using VRF heat pump equipment with a focus on the Back2Basics February test. The project will include two VRF systems, each serving approximately 20,000 square feet of space. The building will also have a 100 percent DOAS gas-fired rooftop HVAC system for ventilation to the occupants in the building.

In last month’s article, we discussed the topic of technology — when to use it and when not to. When we start to utilize technology on our projects, we tend to run into the concept of openness.

This month's Facility Files will focus on the Back2Basics test addressing the renovation of an existing Metro station with the addition of a new smoke evacuation system located within the building and within the subway’s inbound and outbound tunnels. The associated ADA-compliant elevator will have its own stand-alone, engineered, smoke control, 100 percent outside air fan to a positive-pressurized elevator shaft system.