Mechanical Systems

The heating, cooling, and ventilating of the laboratory building is primarily achieved through the utilization of 8 custom air handling units that are classified into two system types. The cleanrooms and many lab spaces are served by Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) air handling units with both supply and exhaust Variable Air Volume (VAV) terminal boxes to control space pressurization. The remaining labs, corridors, offices, and other spaces are served by supply only VAV terminal boxes served by VAV air handling units. Chilled water for equipment is produced by plant comprised of an air-cooled chiller, absorption chiller, and an electric water cooled chiller. Two cooling towers serve the two non-air cooled chillers. The pumping scheme is variable speed primary/secondary. Hot water for equipment is produced by two heat exchangers that use low pressure steam to exchange heat with the returned hot water to bring it up to the supply temperature. The low-pressure steam is the result of high-pressure campus supplied steam passing through pressure reducing stations

 

 

Electrical Systems

  A 22KV transformer outside of the building provides 480/277V voltage to the Laboratory Building. The 480/277V is stepped down to be 208V in most areas of the laboratory building. The systems defined as legally required and emergency electrical power per NEC Articles 700 and 701 are the emergency and egress lighting, fire alarm panels, smoke control dampers, elevator lighting and receptacles, door release panels, gas detection alarm panels, elevator power, elevator sump pumps, elevator HVAC, critical exhaust fans, and spray booth exhaust fans. The emergency and legally required power is provided by an existing 750KW generator located at an adjacent building.             

 

 

Lighting Systems

  All lighting fixtures in the Laboratory building are LED. There are pendant, sconce, downlight, surface mounted, and recessed fixtures. All non-emergency lighting fixtures are equipped with dimming capability. Lighting fixtures are primarily controlled by dual technology type occupancy sensors, which reduce the possibility of false-off problems.

 

 

Structural Systems

  The Laboratory Building is supported by a pile foundation. All foundation piles are 12” x 12” precast prestressed concrete driven piles. Each pile cap ranges from 2 to 10 piles per cap. Pile caps range from 33 to 46 inches thick. Concrete footings rest on the pile caps and support a 5” slab on grade serving the first floor. Progressing up through the building, the second, third, fourth, and penthouse floors are reinforced concrete slabs ranging from 11” to 13” thick.  Every floor, beyond the first, is supported by concrete columns and concrete structure beams. The concrete columns range in size from 14” x 16” to 18” x 36”. The concrete beams range in size from 5’0” x 2’1” to 10” x 1’10”. The compressive strength of concrete used in the columns, shear walls, and elevated slabs, is 5000 psi, while the compressive strength of all other concrete is 4000 psi. The roof is supported by HSS6x6x1/4 hollow tube steel columns and steel bar joists and is comprised of a steel roof deck with concrete topping. The large mechanical shafts are framed with hollow tube steel, and the roof spanning the mechanical shafts is supported by W8x10 steel beams. 

 

       

 Construction Methods 

 The Laboratory Building bid has not yet been awarded and therefore is not yet under construction, means and methods cannot be discussed. 

          

 

Additional Systems

Fire Protection

Smoke detection is present in all areas of the Laboratory Building. In all the lab spaces, oxygen levels are also being monitored and an alarm will sound if the oxygen level in the room becomes too low. Fire alarms are present in audible and visual forms. A wet sprinkler system, dry sprinkler system, and a pre-action sprinkler system are present in the Laboratory Building. Much of the building is protected by a wet sprinkler system, while select lab/cleanroom spaces are served by a pre-action sprinkler system. The loading dock area is served by a dry sprinkler system.

 

Transportation 

Three elevators serve the building along with three stairways.

 

Telecommunications

All rooms have 2 port voice and data wall-mounted outlets. Team rooms and conference rooms are also equipped with coax ports for televisions. The open offices feature furniture mounted 2 port voice and data outlets.