Statistics

Building Statistics

General Building Data

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• Building name

The New Steam Services Building at the West Campus Steam Plant

• Location and site

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

• Building Occupant Name

Steam Services Employees

• Occupancy or function types (type of building)

Mixed use, with machine shops and office spaces

• Size (total square feet)

33,000 square feet

• Number of stories above grade and total levels

3 stories above grade and then a basement

• Primary project team

Owner: The Pennsylvania State University

Contractor, Alexander Building Construction Co

Architect, Buchart Horn Architects

Civil, Buchart Horn Architects

Structural, Buchart Horn Architects

MEP, Buchart Horn Architects

Interior, Diversified Design

• Dates of construction (start – finish)

July 2018 - July 2019

• Actual cost information

$13 million

• Project delivery method

Design-build with design assist partners

• Architecture (design and functional components)

4 story, 33,000 square feet unique mixed use building that features machine and shop rooms as well as office spaces, which requires significant noise reduction features. Modern design featuring precast stone and modified flemish bond brick facade. The facilities design is intended to complement the existing west campus steam plant and meant to tie into surrounding campus designs. 25 foot vertically spanning curtain wall windows on the east, south and west sides.  Cantilevered design atop the all glass main lobby featuring floor to ceiling curtain walls on the first floor.

•  Major national model code/s

IBC 2009

IMC 2009

IPC 2009

IFC 2009

2009 IECC

2007 ASHRAE 90.1

2009 International Fuel Gas code

2008 NFPA 70 & 101

2009 ICC

Chapter 405 of UCC

• Zoning

Through Centre Region code

Allowable height and area with increase due to sprinkler increase 46,500 SQFT, 75 FT 3 stories above grade

• Historical requirements of building or historical district where built (if applicable)

 Not applicable

Building Enclosure

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• Building façades

The typical wall type is named EW1, it is comprised of masonry veneer with a layer of 3-inch rigid board insulation on cold formed metal framing, 2 ½” of spray foam insulation, then gypsum wall board. The main insulators are rigid board insulation with an R value of 18.6 and the spray foam insulation with an R value of 8.25.

• Roofing

The roofing is comprised of a thermoplastic polyolefin membrane, a ½” polyiso cover board, tapered insulation, rigid roof insulation, and a metal roof deck on top of a 2-hour rated 8” CMU column.

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Sustainability Features

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There are only common sustainable features such as tinted glass to reduce solar heat gain, a light-colored roof to reflect heat gain, and a dedicated outdoor air system with an energy recovery unit.

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Mechanical System

The PSU steam services building features one Air Handling Unit which is comprised of a Dedicated Outdoor Air System and an Energy Recovery Wheel. The heat comes from 2” high pressure steam line, then goes through a pressure reducing station at the building wall and converts it down to 10 Psi in two 6” lines then branches to 4” through a shell and pipe heat exchanger, this is supplied to 47 vertical fan coil units that supplies multiple areas and 2 blower coil units that supplies the storage room. There is a ductless mini split with a condensing unit on the ground floor.

Lighting

The building features all LED lights, most of lights are pendant mounted or recessed. The lighting has automated controls with occupancy sensors. The use of LED lighting reduces the energy use on the building.

Electrical

The Existing West Campus Steam Plant serves the main electrical transformer providing high voltage lines of 480/277v 3-phase and low voltage lines of 208/120v 3-phase, with distribution panels on each floor and a different circuit to each room. There is also an emergency generator backup.

Structural

The PSU Steam Services Building has concrete spread footings with concrete masonry unit foundation walls on the South half of the building. On the North side the building is comprised of cast in place basement walls with concrete slab on grade. The building has a steel superstructure with wide flange beams, hollow structural steel columns, and webbed floor joists. The footings and the slabs deck have a concrete rating of 3000 pounds per square inch, the rest of the concrete is rated at 4000 pounds per square inch. The metal 9/16” corrugated deck is 22 gauge with a 4” slab cast on top reinforced with steel mesh.  The roof is 20 gauge 1-½” corrugated metal deck.

Construction

The PSU Steam Services Building utilizes the Design-Bid-Build and Integrated Project Delivery methods. Construction Management was overseen by Alexander Building Construction Company, a member of Butz Family of Companies based in Pennsylvania. The initial project was planned to be a single story building at roughly a fourth of the current value. Due to the ideal location and demand for office space on campus, the project had grown into a four story building through the design process. Construction was planned to start in July of 2018 and is currently on track to be completed in early July of 2019.