Design-Aire Engineering

Indianapolis Engineers - Mechanical • Electrical • Plumbing • Energy

Expand and Upgrade Building 42 – Phlebotomy Laboratory Addition

Marion VA Medical Center (Marion, IL)

Project #657-502; Contract #VA-255-16-RP-0453 (Awarded 9-30-2016)

9,329 SF        Construction Budget: $8.1M

The Expansion/Upgrade included new Phlebotomy Stations, Administration Offices, and Labs for Histology, Microbiology, Chemistry; as well as a Blood Bank.  In addition to serving the Marion VAMC, the new facilities are to serve all clinical VAMC sites within the region. This required new Administrative/Reception/Office Areas capable of accommodating that function. DAE’s President, Dave Haun, served as Project Manager, coordinating with the VA and project subcontractors. All design work followed ADA-Compliance and VA Standards of Barrier-Free Design.

The site also required a Service Road relocation, as well as Site-Parking Modifications. This allowed for the addition of 50 new parking spaces, and as a result, new lighting and storm/sanitary drainage for new parking. Parking areas met the specific requirements of the VA’s Barrier-Free Design Guide; as well as parking structure signage requirements set forth by the VA Signage Design Guide. The addition relocated an existing Service Tunnel (which was to remain operational), as well as the Electrical Feeder Duct-Bank and a Primary Voltage Transformer.

The project incorporated unfinished upper and lower interstitial space for Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems. This was designed to structurally accommodate an eventual construction of a future, additional level. The Design-Team collaborated with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to incorporate design elements, allowing the new addition to visually flow and integrate into the historic campus.

Mechanical design included AHU Installation, Assessment and Mechanical Specifications. Upon assessment, the existing facility Chiller and Boiler was determined capable of accommodating the addition. The new HVAC equipment was connected to these systems and their capacity verified. The new building was then added to campus’ Chilled Water Loop system.

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Renovation and Expansion of Operating Room/Emergency Department

Washington, DC VA Medical Center (Washington, DC)     

Contract #VA245-15-C-0110   (Awarded 10/21/2015)

9,525 SF (New)          10,293 SF (Renovated)         Construction Budget:     $8.5M

This project consisted of two major components. First, it expanded the existing Emergency Department (ED) to a newly-constructed area in Building ‘1.’ Secondly, it expanded the Operating Room (OR) and procedure rooms to the second floor directly above. The existing DECON unit was relocated adjacent to the ED, doubling its size. The project was phased to avoid interruption to the facility’s operations. One of the Operating Rooms was fitted with fixed-imaging equipment that required structural floor load analysis. The OR expansion also included a procedure room designed to meet special requirements of Bariatric patients. This included lifts, furniture, equipment, and examination tables.

A new main entrance was designed to include a covered bay for patient drop off; a new reception/waiting area; ambulance bays/drive-thru; a new elevator; as well as parking space modifications. New staff areas included supply storage, break room/kitchenettes and staff locker rooms.

The new ED/DECON Units solve several issues experienced by the previous facility: 

1) improves flow-through of ambulance traffic.

2) Second, DECON can now feed patients toward the ED (where supplies/personnel can be concentrated);

3) Triage and Urgent Care can be provided in the ED instead of other improvised, crowded settings;

4) Air-handling systems with optimal air flow prevent the entry of contaminants;

5) Ample storage/changing/supply staging space is an improvement from prior facility conditions;

6) The redesign improves flow-through route for entry of supplies via new loading dock;

7) Design allows for future space with far greater utility to be built and used for training, ED surge capacity, and “isolated” patient reception for influx of infections patients.

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Expand 10A Community Living Center

Carl Vinson VA Medical Center (Dublin,  GA)

Contract #VA247-15-C-0107   (Awarded 9/30/2016)

CLC

Size:                16,852 (Addition)       1,158 SF (Renovation)
Estimate:        $6,500,000      Bid:     6,487,000        (Δ -0.20%)

DAE led the Design Team on the addition to a Community Living Center (CLC). This required the renovation of adjoining areas, allowing the new space to flow seamlessly. The addition comprised of 15 Single-Occupancy Beds and Restrooms, allowing the decompression of previous Double-Occupancy units . This improves patient dignity, privacy, and comfort.

An outdoor recreation area adjoining the Indoor Recreation area Dining Areas includes several amenities that create a home-like environment for residents. This includes a garden, a dedicated outdoor restroom, as well as a picnic shed.  A laundry area, medication storage, and a new elevator were also included in the design. 29 additional surface parking spots were added to support visitor and employee needs, requiring extensive site work. DAE teamed with a third-party consultant to perform GIS Topographical Survey(s), as well as all other required geotechnical work.

When Industrial Hygiene/Abatement assessment was necessary, the DAE appointed a Certified Industrial Hygienist to verify that all Abatement Design incorporated VA requirements; as well as all federal, state, and local laws. All design was in accordance with any applicable VA Design Guides, including the Barrier-Free Design Guide; and met NFPA, ASHRAE/SMACNA standards for these types of systems. The project achieved an energy consumption level 30% below ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004. s.

RELEVANT SPACES

● Single-Occupancy  Rooms/Restrooms

● Residential Ancillary Living

● Rehabilitation

● Dining Area

● Outdoor Recreation/Garden

● Dining Area

● Kitchen Prep

● Rehabilitation

Community Living Center Expansion and Renovation

H.H. McGuire VA Medical Center (Richmond, VA)

Project #652-312        Contract #VA246-14-C-0037      (Awarded 9/11/2016)

 17,333 SF         Construction Budget: $8M

DAE was selected as SDVOSB-Prime for the addition/renovations to the CLC at the H.H. McGuire VAMC in Richmond, VA. The project sought to provide a warm, home-like environment for veterans and their families. The VA 100-bed CLC expansion provides private patient rooms and bathrooms, and provides new spaces for registration, waiting, a specialty care clinic, group therapy, communal activity, and family meeting. A new main entrance provides a welcoming space to greet patients.

New staff areas include supply storage, wheelchair storage, a break room with kitchenette, and locker rooms. Interior Finishes (many containing recycled materials) were selected in coordination with the VA, updating while allowing the space to fit into the surrounding campus. The expansion also called for a new elevator.

For the MEP Design, DAE provided an Inventory and Assessment of existing Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems; as well as assessments of proposed upgrades in order to plan for future equipment replacement/preventative maintenance.

The new CLC meets current design standards; as well as corrected any deficiencies indicated by the current VA Planning Guidelines, Physical Security requirements, and projected workload statistics. All design work followed ADA-Compliance/VA Standards of Barrier-Free Design. The A/E furnished Geotechnical work, including GIS Topographical Survey(s) of existing pre-construction conditions; as well as provided all necessary DEQ Permits for the project.

Services providing:

  • Programming
  • Schematics
  • Design development
  • Construction documents
  • Technical specifications
  • Construction period services
  • Site visits
  • Cost estimates
  • As-built documents
  • All other design services required

Building 6 – Energy Model

Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center

Saginaw, Michigan

Aleda E. Lutz Saginaw, MI

Aleda E. Lutz – Building 6
Saginaw, MI

The Veterans Administration constructed Building 6 on the Aleda E. Lutz campus in Saginaw, Michigan to achieve a Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED) rating of Silver.  The building included energy efficient lighting (light emitting diode & compact fluorescent, occupancy sensors), heating ventilation and air conditioning (connection to central heating plant 12 EER roof top cooling, energy management system) and insulation (3” isoboard, R-21) walls and roof. Total square feet – 7,318

Design-Aire Engineering (DAE) provide building simulation to determine if modifications to the Aleda E. Lutz Veterans Administration Medical Center reduced energy costs sufficient to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation

Building 6

DAE determined renovations to the lighting, heating, air-conditioning and building envelope systems reduced energy consumption and cost by 24% and thereby qualify for 9 points toward LEED Silver accreditation.

Community Living Center (Dining, Laundry, & Bathroom)

Alvin C. York VA Medical Center

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Size:  4,885 sq. ft.

Designing a homelike environment, providing common areas for patients (residents) and families to relax and meet.  Total renovation is 4,885 square feet with surrounding areas receiving minor upgrades (finishes) so space is integrated and flows.

The Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro, TN sought to renovate its existing Community Living Center (CLC) to better meet the need of its residents and staff.  Currently a three wing unit, with over 40 double bed rooms the existing CLC functioned as inpatient unit with inadequate space to accommodate dining, activities, and staff flow.

Following the VA’s Cultural Transformation initiative, the design team renovated the existing core space to include improve department functions.  The new design implemented resident dining with new nutritional operations for meal service.  Living and dining room spaces were optimized to switch functions with minimal disruption to daily operations.

The large Nurse Station units were decentralized to create a more home-like environment and the staff multi-purpose reworked to make room for expanded patient space to include the dining, lounge, and nourishment center.  The new nurse’s stations was relocated improving security and monitoring of resident.  The scope of work also includes upgrades to Laundry facility, bathing, administration, medication, and multifunction storage areas.

Relocated existing low voltage systems (nurse call, IT, Security, Fire Alarm).

Surrounding areas will receive minor upgrades for continuity.Community Living Center 2

Work included:

  • Mechanical
  • Electrical
  • Controls
  • Data/communicationsCommunity Living Center 1
  • Plumbing
  • Demolition
  • Life safety
  • Fire alarm/sprinkler systems
  • Interior design and architectural

Theater HVAC & Building Envelope Project B47

Marion Veterans Administrative Medical Center (VAMC)

Marion VAMC - Theater

Theater

Marion, Indiana

Built in 1880, many of the historical components of this theater are in need of restoration, including the HVAC, wood windows and doors, brick masonry, and roofing.  Additionally, the original stage and seating will be restored.

The 100+ year old, 8,600 square feet building remodel included:

  • New windows and doors
  • Envelope insulation
  • HVAC replacement
  • Lighting upgrade
Outside of the Theater

Building from the Outside

The heating only, single pipe steam system was replaced with a high efficiency 2-pipe fan coil system with cooling provided by a 150-ton air-cooled chiller.  A dedicated outside air-unit provided neutral ventilation air through existing exhaust ductwork that was cleaned and reused for the supply air.

Size:       8,600 square feet

Veteran Affairs Medical Center – Danville, Illinois

Danville Illiana Health Care

Domestic Water Distribution System
domestic water distribution system

Veteran Affairs Medical Center – Danville, IL Danville Illiana Health Care System

Professional Services:  2008

Completed:  2012

DAE’s Role:  Project Manger, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer

DAE designed and oversaw construction of the Danville Illiana Health Care System for the replacement of the domestic water distribution system.  Aside from water distribution, a key requirement was the site coordination with 100 plus years of underground piping and obstructions, which DAE successfully accomplished.  This project was divided into three phases.

 

Roudebush Veterans Administration Hospital

Chiller Plant

Roudebush VAMC – Chiller Plant

Chiller Plant Addition

This project provide for the addition of 2,400 tons of chiller capacity to the existing chiller plant.  This included (2) 1,000 ton (4,460 volt), (1) 400 ton chiller (4,460 volt), an additional cooling tower cell, and new chiller and cooling tower pumps.  A key facet of this project was the necessity to provide this additional chiller capacity in a manner that met hospital acoustical level standards.

Also, included with this project was the efficient integration of the staging of chillers for efficient use during part load operation.

Estimated cost of this project as $1.2 million, but actual cost came in significantly under the estimate due to creative use of Victaulic piping connections suggested by Design-Aire Engineering, Inc. (DAE) for Phase I installation that was mostly reusable under the subsequent Phase II installation designed by DAE.

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