Paul Spiegel, PE, LEED AP 12/4/20 Paul Spiegel, PE, LEED AP 12/4/20

Building Tune-Up - Pilot Study

Members of our Energy and Sustainability Services department performed a ‘building tune-up’ at the Juvenile Justice Center to identify opportunities for conserving energy and water usage. This evaluation was conducted as a pilot for the City of Philadelphia, for the development of Building Energy Performance Policy Ordinance and program guidelines. (BEPP)

Juvenile Justice Center | City of Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Building Characteristics

160,000 SF
West Philadelphia, PA
Mixed Use – Penitentiary/Office Space
Building Construction Date – 2013

The scope of the evaluation included meeting with the facility maintenance team and the mechanical contractor, collecting performance data in the building automation system, and conducting independent data logging to analyze building operations over an extended period.

Through this data collection, the team identified opportunities for adjustments within the existing control system to generate energy and water savings within the mechanical system, lighting, and domestic hot water.

The team worked with the mechanical contractor to implement these opportunities within the building automation system and conducted a verification analysis to measure the impact of these improvements.

The team identified improvements to reduce unnecessary equipment operation that lower the operating time for major equipment and extend the replacement time, ensure occupant comfort was maintained, and generate cost savings through less energy and water usage.

The final recommendations are projected to generate savings of $0.15/SF or up to $24,000 annually, making the payback for the evaluation less than one year.

The deliverables of the evaluation included a final report and building evaluation worksheet, similar to the documents required as part of the Building Energy Performance Policy.

PES provided guidance to the City of Philadelphia for the BEPP to ensure the Tune-Ups provide value to building owners through improved building operations and cost savings.

Bruce Bell, PE, LEED AP 9/15/17 Bruce Bell, PE, LEED AP 9/15/17

Conversion of 2 Dormitory HVAC Systems from Two-Pipe to Four Pipe Systems

SSM performed a detailed field survey of each building. The existing fan coil units were located in extremely tight spaces above the ceiling. Converting the system from a two-pipe system to a four-pipe system required detailed coordination with existing architecture and other utilities.

Marymount University | Berg Hall & Rowley Hall

Arlington, VA

Berg Hall and Rowley Hall are both dormitory buildings located at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. The existing dorm rooms in each building were served by fan coil units supplied by a two-pipe heating and cooling system. The scope of the project was to replace the existing fan coil units, greater than 270 individual units, and upgrade the existing two-pipe system to a four-pipe system in each building. Work in Berg Hall also included replacement of the existing air-cooled chiller with two new 35 ton water-cooled heat recovery chillers, and the addition of a dry cooler. The existing boilers were also replaced with a new 600 MBH boiler, and new pumps were provided for the heating system as well as the cooling system.

This project was more complex due to the expedited design and construction schedule. SSM conducted the field survey over the Winter break while students were not on campus, and then quickly completed the design to meet the aggressive permit submission deadline. During the construction phase, SSM worked closely with the owner and the contractor to facilitate completion of the project.

Steve Smith 9/12/17 Steve Smith 9/12/17

Existing Structure and Landscape Conditions

SSM utilized high definition laser scanning equipment and software to quickly and accurately capture the existing structure and landscape conditions.

ATKIN-OLSHEN and CVM

Swarthmore College Scott Amphitheatre

Scans: 8Scan Time: 1 day

Working for Project Architect Atkin-Olshen, and CVM, the structural engineers responsible for designing a proposed removable canopy and supporting structures for the existing 50-year-old open-air Amphitheatre, SSM utilized high definition laser scanning equipment and software to quickly and accurately capture the existing structure and landscape conditions. These services were employed to enable the project team to design the renovations in a 3‑D environment. The Revit model and accompanying point cloud allows the team and owner to design and then view the effects their design will have on the multi-terraced levels, stone retaining walls and mature trees. In addition, SSM utilized an existing topographical survey plan that was imported into Revit and used as supplemental background information.

SSM delivered the following:

An accurate 3D model of the Ampitheatre developed in Revit. The point cloud data was included in the Revit drawing.
Leica Tru-View of each scanner position. Leica Tru-View is a free web-based tool allowing the user to view the point cloud and field photography together, to easily and quickly “re-visit” the scanned areas of the building. Tasks such as panning, zooming, acquiring measurements and mark-up tools are all functions of the Leica Tru-View Software.

Eileen Kaley 9/6/17 Eileen Kaley 9/6/17

Building Conversion | Mansfield University

Foor and Associates Architects

Mansfield, PA

Study and preliminary design for the conversion of a 2,400 square foot lecture hall into three separate functional spaces by the installation of moveable partitions. HVAC and electrical systems needed to be reconfigured to function as three individual zones. SSM performed a survey of existing HVAC and electrical systems, determined how to modify these system to support the new architectural layout for the space, and estimated the cost of construction for the renovations. SSM also evaluated the existing structure to determine if it could support the proposed moveable partitions.

Patrick McCoy, PE, LEED AP, CSDP 12/29/16 Patrick McCoy, PE, LEED AP, CSDP 12/29/16

Structural Engineering for Higher Education Facility Addition

Provided structural engineering for an approximately 15,000 square foot addition to the Student Union and Services Building at Lincoln University.

Student Union and Services Building

Lincoln University

Lincoln University, Pennsylvania

Provided structural engineering for an approximately 15,000 square foot addition to the Student Union and Services Building at Lincoln University. The project included significant upgrades to the existing building area.

The existing two-story concrete framed building was expanded on three sides by the addition of a two-story steel framed structure. The upgrades included the addition or modification of a mailroom, bookstore, cinema viewing area, offices, game room, two story atrium, storage and maintenance areas, and a multi-purpose area.

The existing structure was analyzed and reinforced as required for new loads, including new rooftop mechanical equipment. The structural design included design of foundations, ground floor slab, retaining walls, elevated floor slabs, steel framing, and roof deck.

Performed construction phase services including structural shop drawing reviews, responding to contractor's “Request for Information (RFI), and occasional site visits to review construction.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY | STUDENT UNION INTERIOR

Bruce Bell, PE, LEED AP 5/12/16 Bruce Bell, PE, LEED AP 5/12/16

Ventilation Study

SSM mechanical engineers completed a ventilation study to provide options to ventilate the “attic” spaceof Weightman Hall.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia PA

SSM completed a study to provide options to ventilate the “attic” spaceof Weightman Hall. The space contained two air conditioners discharging hot condenser air into the space. The existing ventilation of this space was not sufficient to remove the heat leading to an increased load on the air conditioners and decrease in performance of the units which are rated at ambient temperatures of 95 deg. F. Temperatures in the attic space were believedtoexceed 120 deg. F.

SSM explored options to ventilate the space housing the air conditioners to provide a satisfactory ambient condition or modify the installation to mitigate the impact of being installed in an interior space. SSM mechanical engineers surveyed the site and documented existing conditions including several existing and apparently abandoned duct systems in the vicinity of the air conditioners and the space in which the units are housed and the surrounding areas in sufficient detail to develop ventilation options. The final report included three options for creating a satisfactory environment for the operation of the air conditioning units and budgetary construction costs for each scenario.