Structural Engineering for New Municipal Offices

East Cocalico Township

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Structural engineering for a new 10,000 square foot facility to house all municipal offices and a complete full-time police department.

SSM developed the schematic plans and, with the assistance of a consulting architect, designed the facility. 

The building includes the complete police department, including holding cells, secure evidence room, laboratory, interrogation/interview rooms, as well as normal police offices.  The second floor housed all the municipal offices, including meeting rooms and offices for all public officials.

Structural Engineering for New Animal Hospital

ANIMAL CARE HOSPITAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF ST. THOMAS

Humane Society of St. Thomas Animal Care Hospital

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

SSM's engineers provided structural engineering for multiple buildings at this complex to meet the challenging wind and seismic conditions demanded by the project location. Our structural engineers worked worked closely with the rest of the design and construction team (consisting of SSM, Caribbean and California-based architects and consultants).

The structural design included extensive retaining wall design for this hill top site, as well as 3 large underground cisterns to hold water for the entire complex.

Working with Caribbean and California-based architects and consultants, SSM carried out a structural design that included extensive retaining wall design for the hill-top site, as well as three large underground cisterns to hold collected rainwater for the entire complex.

Landscape architects and civil engineers provided site and civil engineering services, integrating the architectural plans with the site in terms of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, landscaping, and exterior site features. In addition, provided sewage treatment plant design and collection system design.

ANIMAL CARE CAMPUS HUMANE SOCIETY OF ST. THOMAS

Balcony Restoration High Rise Apartment Complex

HUMMINGBIRD HILL CONDOMINIUMS

Hummingbird Hill Condominiums

Reading, Pennsylvania

Structural investigation of 97 precast concrete balconies for a residential high-rise building. Assisted with structural inspection of balconies; and research for repair techniques.

Ventilation Study

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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.

Structural Assessment of Historical Building

Wernersville Historical Society | Wernersville Train Station

Wernersville, PA

SSM conducted a comprehensive structural condition survey of this existing historic building that has been abandoned for almost 40 years.  In addition to identifying the building components that required repairs or replacement, SSM provided a prioritized, cost-itemized list of recommendations for the ultimate restoration.

Adaptive Re-Use

KUTZTOWN TRAIN STATION

Borough of Kutztown

Train Station

Kutztown PA

SSM provided engineering for upgrades to train station that was built in approximately 1870.  The upgrades include installation of restrooms, closets, new HVAC system, as well as insulation of walls, floor, and roof.  The project also included improving the lighting, providing ADA compliant access to the building, and relocating the boarding platform.  The large freight room in one section of the structure will become a meeting room for the Borough Council.

Master Plan, Phase I Restoration and Phase II Construction Documentation

WHITE HAVEN COMMUNITY LIBRARY

FRENS & FRENS, LLC RESTORATION ARCHITECTS

White Haven Community Library

White Haven PA

The West Chester-based architectural firm of Frens and Frens, LLC was initially engaged to prepare a Master Plan to identify the feasibility of the adaptive re-use of the 1864 Lehigh Railroad Engine House for the White Haven Area Community Library. As SSM has done with several projects with the firm, we were responsible for land surveying; the assessment of the building systems including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural; site design issues related to zoning, stormwater management and; evaluation potential site environmental concerns.  At this stage, schematic plans were prepared to identify budget and gain community support for the conversion.

SSM continued to support the team on subsequent phases. Phase 1 has been completed and was undertaken to stabilize and improve the building’s masonry envelope and steel structure. 

Phase 2 is currently underway and includes the design for site improvements and documentation for the new building mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. A significant effort was undertaken to identify the feasibility of utilizing alternative energy opportunities, including geothermal systems.  After identifying potential geothermal systems appropriate for the specific site geology, site design constraints and permitting our mechanical design staff worked in concert with SSM’s environmental staff to conduct a well boring and thermal conductivity testing.  SSM prepared probably cost estimates and payback.  The outcome of these efforts has led to funding of the system installation, and the project is currently out for bidding.

Ventilation Studies

NESTLE WATERS NORTH AMERICA

Nestle Waters North America

Poland Springs ME, Breinigsville PA, Zephyr Hills Florida

NWNA is a business unit of Nestlé Nestle Waters North America (NWNA) S.A. The Nestlé Waters business represents 10% of Nestlé, S.A. global sales and holds the number one leadership position for bottled water brands in the world. Nestlé Waters North America represented 36.4% ($)of the bottled water market in 2010 producing water under the brand names of Perrier, Aqua Panna, S. Pellegrino, Deer Park, Arrowhead, Ice Mountain, Ozarka, Zephyrhills, Poland Spring, re-source, and Nestle Pure Life.  SSM has worked with NWNA at several sites throughout the United States including Poland Springs ME, Breinigsville PA, and Zephyr Hills FL.

Our services have included providing ventilation studies at these three facilities to evaluate airflow, contaminant migration, and temperature control.

A key element and driver of the study at two of the facilities involved area carbon monoxide levels above the OSHA guideline. SSM performed both spot and time-history testing of carbon monoxide levels as well as space temperature and observed operating procedures within the facility.  The studies provided recommendations for modifications and additions to the ventilation systems including recommendations for ventilation control systems to achieve the desired results while minimizing energy consumption.

Subsequent projects included the design of those ventilation systems and the design of the ventilation control systems including heat recovery. 

Other projects have included the design of new ammonia chiller cooling systems, HVAC design for clean manufacturing areas, ventilation system validation, and arc flash studies and training.

Electrical Analysis

Country Day School

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

SSM electrical engineers performed a detailed site survey and analysis of the overall campus electrical distribution system and analyzed the current uses.
Developed a prioritized list of buildings and uses of power for allocation of emergency backup power. Compared survey data to existing drawings and updated drawings. Prepared a report summarizing the collected data and presented a Master Plan to re-feed and back-up with the newly acquired emergency generator.
 

COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, ST. CROIX

Mold Inspection Prior to Construction

VIRGINIA STATE CAPITOL

The Hillier Group

Virginia State Capitol Building

Performed a detailed mold inspection and sampling of the Virginia State Capitol Building prior to the initiation of construction and renovation of the building and replacement of the building ventilation systems. This project was initiated since given the age of the building and the ventilation system, the presence of mold was suspect.

The inspection, sampling and recommendations and specifications for remediation were completed in accordance with guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency for Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.  In areas were visible mold was observed, SSM collected swab samples to confirm the presence of mold and air samples for fungi were collected to determine if airborne contamination was present.