Featured Current Project: Mockingbird Station Phase 2
Client: Real Estate Capital Partners
Dallas, Texas
Update #2: December 2011
Phase 2 Part 1: Air Distribution System Update
One of our engineers just completed a preliminary punchlist on the construction progress. The duct work sound-lining had been removed, the duct riser cleaned, and the duct wrapped with external insulation. The contractor is now removing the 9-story high scaffolding from the return air plenum.
This past weekend was a busy weekend for the contracting team as they demolished the existing duct riser elbow and fan enclosure and rebuilt the new systems, all in the same weekend. The new radius duct elbow was constructed of 16 gage galvanized sheet metal with dual splitter vanes for reduced pressure loss.
The new fan enclosure was constructed around the two existing 100 HP vane-axial fans with 2” double wall insulated panels and sealed to maintain an air and water tight enclosure. The building owner was impressed with the professionalism and workmanship of the contracting team and was happy to find the system complete and fully functional for the restart on Monday morning.
In mid-January, our engineers will be returning to the site to verify the construction progress. They will also be reviewing the contractor’s pricing and kicking off construction for the chiller installation in Phase 2 Part 2.
Phase 2 Part 2: Central Plant Replacement Update
The drawings for the central plant replacement have been submitted for permit and pricing. We reviewed the rigging path and construction phasing with the contractor to ensure that the HVAC system will remain functional throughout construction and look forward to beginning construction of the second phase in late January.
Old Chiller Plant New Replacement Chiller
Update #1: October 2011
Facts:
- Size: 120,000 square foot office building
- Construction Cost: Approximately $1.4 Million
- Construction Start Date: October 2011
- Approximate Construction End Date: April 2012
- Project Type: Central Plant Replacement/ Infrastructure Upgrade
- Services Provided: Mechanical and electrical engineering design services, equipment pre-purchasing, construction services, and
construction management
Features:
- High-Efficiency Water Cooled Centrifugal Chiller
- Condenser water and chilled water pumps with VFD's
- A complete new chilled water plant to replace the existing direct expansion cooling plant
- Existing variable pitch vane-axial fans converted to variable speed fans
Mockingbird Station is a multi-phase project that began after Williams Notaro completed an evaluation of the building in 2008 to determine if replacing the old HVAC central plant system would result in better reliability, higher efficiency, and operating cost savings. The central plant renovation was separated into multiple phases to maintain the facilities’ operation throughout the construction process.
Click to visit the project description for Phase 1
Phase 2 is currently being designed in two separate packages. The first design package involves the ductwork, insulation, VFD, and supply fan modifications and will begin construction at the end of October 2011. Williams Notaro engineers have visited the building to verify existing conditions, determine the location of new equipment, and coordinate with the landlord and contractor to ensure that the project team knows the scope of work, impact on the buildings operation, and budget perimeters.
The second design package should be completed in December 2011 with a construction start date in Mid-January or February of 2012. The temporary reduction in chiller capacity will not have a high impact on building comfort due to colder outdoor temperatures. This phase involves the replacement of four chillers, cooling coils, and pumps.
With the designs for the air distribution system (Part I of Phase 2) submitted, a prime contractor’s bid price is in the process of being reviewed in comparison to an independent cost consultants pricing. We are also coordinating with a structural engineer for the infill of an abandoned outside air intake with concrete. A before and proposed after picture for this infill can be found below.
Three of our staff members will be on site October 24th-26th, to kick off the construction for Part I of Phase 2 of the project and coordinate the installation of Part II of Phase 2 which is in now in progress. Our engineers are in the process of defining requirements and preparing construction documents for this second part of Phase 2.
Updates will be posted on this project as it moves through construction for both parts of Phase 2.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
