KJWW conducted an in-depth facility assessment to kick off the project determining the facility’s existing loads, energy resources, cost and future use with an expanding area population.

Challenges & Solutions |

• The multi-level atrium was required by code to include a smoke evacuation system. KJWW worked with the smoke consultant and architects to make small changes in the upper building design that allowed the elimination of a second (expensive) smoke control system.
• KJWW engineers revised the utility distribution infrastructure to improve overall facility reliability and serve the bed tower addition. They also installed a standby generator in the central plant for environmental considerations (sound, smoke, gas) and used medium voltage design due to distance issues in serving the bed tower.
• To enhance nurse communications, KJWW designers used low-voltage cabling for mobile communications to reach current and future access points in the tower. Nurses save thousands of steps daily, allowing better nurse-patient interaction

Additional Information |

To support the addition, the existing central utility plant had to be expanded to allow room for additional chillers and boilers, and convert the system from constant volume primary secondary to a variable primary flow system. Demolition and start-up of the new place occurred in a span of less than five months.

The new 2,700-ton chiller plant project addressed the hospital’s main concerns for the possibility of running the steam system at full capacity and overcoming restrictions of use with small distribution pipes. The new plant runs year-round with an approximate 200- to 300-ton winter cooling load. The energy efficiency improvement goal was met with a 35% reduction in electric power.

The renovations included HVAC updates and plumbing revisions to accommodate the recently installed chiller plant, and fire protection services.  Electrical designs accounted for site and interior lighting and controls, as well as emergency power distribution including an engine/generator set, fuel system, exhaust and intake ventilation, and automatic transfer switch.
 
For technology, KJWW designed the service entrance, equipment room, backbone cabling and horizontal cabling sub-systems. Other plans incorporated CATV video cabling infrastructure for distribution of off-site service, information outlet configuration, and a telecommunications-related grounding system that would meet industry standards.