HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT BUILDING HHD

Major National Model Codes

The codes applicable in this project are the following:

• IBC 2009

• IEBC 2009

• IFC 2009

• 2003 ICC ANSI A117.1

• American with Disabilities Act

• National Electrical Code 2008

• Uniform Construction Code Chapter 405

• IMC 2009

• IPC 2009

• IECC2009

 

Zoning

HHD building follows the State College Borough zoning and falls under the University Planned District. The required set backs, height, and parking regulations are met.

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Historical Requirements

HHD building exterior design follows the Penn State typical building appearances to integrate with the campus.

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Building Enclosure

The HHD building enclosure is mainly composed of brick veneer (flemish bond), limestone veneer, aluminum windows, and a curtain wall. Limestone veneer wraps the entrance first floor of the building, and the brick veneer covers the rest of the building. The typical exterior wall is composed of brick veneer (flemish bond, followed by exterior air cavity, membrane air/vapor barrier, 8’ CMU, and metal stud.  As for the windows, they are punched aluminum windows that have 1” insulated glass, with limestone lintels placed above the window.

 

The glass curtain wall on the south side of HHD building is located at the large atrium space, where the main interior stairs are located. It is composed of an aluminum system that is finished with a powered coat and contains 1” insulated glass.

 

The roof is a sloped roof made of slate shingles, rafters, rigid insulation, vapor barrier, dens-deck underlayment, and the structural metal roof deck.

 

Sustainability Features

HHD building is LEED certified, as required by Penn State. It has green roof and a water collection cistern. Recyclable materials were used, as well as low emitting materials. 

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Part 2: Engineering Systems

Mechanical

The mechanical equipment of this building is made of three variable volume ACFs, two 100% outside air constant volume ACFs, a constant volume ACF, FCUs, split systems, exhaust fans, and heat recovery units. The VAV ACFs and one CAV ACF are new additions, primarily serving the newer portion of the building. The rest are re-used due to their good condition. All the ACFs (with one exception) are located in the mechanical penthouse. The building is served with chilled water from the campus chilled water system. A heat exchanger is provided to isolate the campus system from the building heat exchanger side distribution system. The campus chilled water supply is designed at 42°F in the summer and 48°F in the winter. The campus chilled water supply operates at a 12°F temperature difference between supply and return water.

 

The VAV ACFs have humidifiers, economizers, and hot water reheating systems. The economizer dampers operate with a dependence on both dry bulb temperature and enthalpy of the outside air. A minimum of 20% outside air is always provided by the VAV systems. There are two fans for supply and return. Both fans are controlled by a variable frequency drive. The systems have a preheat coil, a cooling coil, and local reheat coils by hot water. The systems are each assigned a specific zone in the newer portion of the building, which include west offices, east offices, core offices, and atrium space.

 

As for the 100% outside air CAV ACFs, they are coupled with exhaust fans that have a heat recovery unit. The two ACFs supply labs and Animal labs. The heat from the air exhausted from both labs is recovered by a heat recovery coil, before the exhaust fans exhaust the air to the outside. Also, the two systems have economizers, humidifiers, and variable frequency drive that controls the supply fans. A preheat coil, heat recovery coil, a cooling coil, and local reheating coils are utilized by the two systems. The CAV ACF that does not supply 100% outside air is a relatively small ACF that only supplies one lecture hall.

 

FCUs and split systems serve the renovated portion of the building, mainly laboratories and service/storage rooms. There are continuously FCUs running supported with split systems serving the service rooms of the building. Other FCUs serve laboratories and are either continuous or scheduled.

As for the exhaust fans, they provide appropriate exhaust rates for bathrooms, storage/service rooms, and laboratories. Service and storage rooms are served with continuous exhaust fans. Bathrooms and laboratories are served with scheduled and continuous exhaust fans, depending on the space.

 

Lighting

The general occupancy of the building consists of offices, labs, and classrooms. The main lighting fixtures utilized fluorescent or LED lights, depending on the space. Generally, Fluorescent lights are used for smaller private spaces, such as offices, conference rooms, and labs. LED fixtures are utilized more in the large atrium space and other common areas. Lighting controls in HHD are designed for occupant comfort, while saving as much energy as possible.

 

The lighting design of HHD involved a specific lighting and control strategy to achieve the design goals of occupancy comfort and saving energy. For offices, the main lighting strategy is to provide dual lamp direct/indirect linear fluorescent pendants. The control strategy involves manual on/off and dimming controls via a room station. Classrooms are equipped with linear fluorescent down lighting, and LED downlight at classroom main table. There are manual on/off controls, dimming controls, and scene selection. Conference rooms have linear LED down lighting with dimming controls and vacancy sensors. Corridors have linear fluorescent wall slot/perimeter lighting. The lighting in corridors operate on a time schedule along with occupancy sensors, where they operate throughout the operating hours and operate based on occupancy after hours. Atrium lights are mainly ceiling mounted LED downlights and LED accent lights. They operate the same way as corridor lights, with the difference of having extended operating hours.

 

Structural

The foundation of the building is mainly continuous spread footings, along with isolated spread footings for interior stairs. As for the floors, a 5 in. slab on grade and slab on metal decks were utilized. Metal roof decks were used for the construction of the roof. A steel structure is used to support the building. Typical column sizes range from 8 X 31 to 12 X 170, and typical beams sizes range from 8 X 10 to 18 X 158.

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Electrical

The electrical supply to HHD comes from the Penn State Campus, same way the chilled water and steam are supplied to the building. There is a main distribution switchgear that is 480/277V, 3-Phase, 4-Wire, 2500A. The power is then distributed to sub-distribution panelboards.

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Construction Management

Health and Human Development building is located at a very important location in State College and in the University Park campus. It is a relatively large building located along College Avenue, one of the main traffic roads in the city. Also, it is close to the HUB, which is a major student gathering building. During construction, it was important that the surrounding roads and pathways were not obstructed. The site had to be confined to a small area, which required a lot of planning and coordination. Moreover, the surrounding buildings were functional throughout the construction of the building, creating more challenges.

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Fire Protection

HHD building is equipped with the necessary specifications that allow it to perform well when protecting occupants in an event of fire. There is a wet sprinkler system that works with heat and smoke detectors. Main structural elements are fireproofed with spray foam. Elevator shafts and stairwells are appropriately pressurized, and are surrounded with 2-hour ratings as well. The building is equipped with smoke detectors that are located 15 feet from end walls in corridors and 30 feet on center. Also, smoke detectors are placed at least 3 feet away from air vents. Audible notification appliances have a sound level of at least 75 dBA at 10 feet. A combination of visual and audible notifications appliances is available. Moreover, building exits have a capacity that greatly exceeds the occupant load.