AE Senior Thesis Activities

AE SENIOR THESIS ACTIVITIES
AE Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2003
AE SENIOR THESIS ACTIVITIES The 2003 Senior Awards and Recognition Banquet was held on May 2, 2003 at the Nittany Lion Inn. We were very pleased to present nearly $100,000 in scholarships and awards (see link below to view the list) to deserving AE undergraduate students. We are extremely grateful for the phenomenal generosity of our alumni and friends who so faithfully support the AE Scholarship and Awards Program each year. A panel of forty industry professionals (shown above; see link below to view the list) met during the afternoon to judge the top eight fifth-year thesis presentations. TOP EIGHT SENIOR THESESThe following seniors garnered top honors in their class when they presented their senior projects to a jury of industry professionals at the Nittany Lion Inn on May 2, 2003. When Allison Brown began her project, she asked herself, “How much light do the blind actually need?” Her project was the National Research and Training Institute for the Blind in Baltimore, MD. By researching the differences between the legally blind and partially sighted, in particular the ability to distinguish between light and dark, Allison focused on the way light reacts with the architectural form of the space and how it could be enhanced for those with both normal vision and for the partially sighted. Allison will return in the fall to complete her B.A.E./M.A.E. degree. Brendan Cullen’s thesis project focused on the design of a ground-coupled heat pump system for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, located in Grand Rapids, MI. His mechanical systems redesign compared a ground-source system designed to meet the building loads in their entirety to a hybrid system utilizing supplemental cooling equipment. Part of the project also included a study on the most cost effective ground-loop layout in terms of borehole depth and the total number bores to be drilled. Upon graduating in May of 2003, Brendan plans to move to Northern Virginia where he will be working for Girard Engineering as a mechanical design engineer in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Joseph DiIenno’s mechanical thesis focused on the feasibility of energy recovery in conjunction with the application of a redesigned central cooling and heating plant. The building analyzed was The QIAGEN Sciences United States Manufacturing and Research Facility located in Germantown, MD. Joe’s mechanical design focused on the use of a total energy recovery system for the existing 100% outdoor air air-handling units and the redesign of the central cooling and heating plants utilizing gas-fired double-effect absorption chiller heaters. Joe will be graduating in December 2003 with a B.A.E./M.A.E. degree. Future plans include time off to travel Italy after graduation. Using recent trends in steel construction, Amy Graver’s thesis investigated design modifications to minimize labor costs on the Plaza at PPL Center in Allentown, PA. Focusing on economy, the modifications included a low seismic design and analysis with a comparison of four moment frame systems: special, intermediate, ordinary, and moment frames not detailed specifically for seismic resistance. The moment frames were then compared to a brace frame system not detailed for seismic resistance. Amy graduated in May with a B.A.E./M.A.E. degree and has accepted a job with Simpson Gumpertz and Heger in Rockville, MD.	Jenny Holden's thesis focused on the renovation to the National Archives Building in downtown Washington, D.C. All of her investigations were aspects of the project that the building team wished to analyze further. She first looked at the possibility of renovating this historic facility while it was unoccupied, in order to show how this could save significant time on the schedule. Next, she investigated how the temporary mechanical system could be laid out differently so that the trades involved in the early stages of the project would have fewer coordination issues. Her redesign portion of the project involved the new theater that would be constructed underneath the exterior monumental stairs on Constitution Avenue. She changed some of the design aspects of the room in order to improve the acoustics in the space. Shortly after graduating this spring with a B.A.E./ M.A.E. degree, she will be getting married and moving to Santa Monica, CA where she will work for Morley Builders as a Project Engineer. The Corron Cultural Center, the heart of which is a 1000-seat theater at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA was Sara Lapanno’s thesis project. The main focus of her study was the lighting design of four areas: the audience chamber in the theater, the lobby, the classroom, and the exterior façade. Several secondary analyses were also performed to study further the audience chamber. Those involved mechanical, acoustical, and electrical studies as well as a cost analysis of the revised lighting design proposal. Sara will be retuning to Penn State in the fall to complete her B.A.E./M.A.E. degree James Meacham investigated different heating and cooling plants for the University of Pennsylvania Pre K-8 grade school, located in Philadelphia, PA. His main focus was on annual energy cost reduction. It was found that replacing the current dual fuel boilers with natural gas boilers, and switching the current chillers with a smaller chiller and ice storage tanks, along with an enthalpy wheel to reduce overall building load, saved on first cost and operating cost. There also was minimal schedule impact. James also researched the use of 3D CAD by mechanical design-build contractors. Five companies were investigated to analyze implementation strategies of 3D CAD. It was found that each company introduced and uses 3D CAD to enhance a process that they already do well. James will intern with Southland Industries this summer, and complete his B.A.E. in construction management and M.A.E. in mechanical systems in Fall 2003. Michelle Mentzer chose a residential high-rise in New York City for her structural thesis. Her goal was to develop a system to support heavy cladding loads that could not be supported by the thin cantilevered slabs of the original design. This would allow architectural precast panels to replace the light weight metal panels previously specified. She designed a large truss system at roof level with hanging tension members to support the panels. Her design dealt with the structural aspects as well as architectural changes and construction management issues. Michelle will return in the fall to complete her B.A.E./M.A.E. degree. PENNHARMONICS Entertainment at the awards banquet was provided by the Pennharmonics, one of the premiere a cappella groups at Penn State. AE 5th year Peter Drake (far right) is a member of the coed group that has been performing both on and off campus since 1992. The group has performed as far away as St. Louis, MO, as well as closer to home at schools in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. For several years, they have also competed in the annual International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. This year, the Pennharmonics took first place in both quarter-finals and semi-finals which led them to a stellar performance on Broadway on April 26-27, 2003.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2003 JURY LIST SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS LIST	SPECIAL THANKS A special thank you to all those who generously sponsored the cost of some of our student meals at the Senior Banquet. This is an enormous help to the Department in defraying the cost of the banquet and is greatly appreciated by both the Department and the student

AE SENIOR THESIS ACTIVITIES

AE Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2003

AE SENIOR THESIS ACTIVITIES
The 2003 Senior Awards and Recognition Banquet was held on May 2, 2003 at the Nittany Lion Inn. We were very pleased to present nearly $100,000 in scholarships and awards (see link below to view the list) to deserving AE undergraduate students. We are extremely grateful for the phenomenal generosity of our alumni and friends who so faithfully support the AE Scholarship and Awards Program each year.

A panel of forty industry professionals (shown above; see link below to view the list) met during the afternoon to judge the top eight fifth-year thesis presentations.

TOP EIGHT SENIOR THESESThe following seniors garnered top honors in their class when they presented their senior projects to a jury of industry professionals at the Nittany Lion Inn on May 2, 2003.

When Allison Brown began her project, she asked herself, “How much light do the blind actually need?” Her project was the National Research and Training Institute for the Blind in Baltimore, MD. By researching the differences between the legally blind and partially sighted, in particular the ability to distinguish between light and dark, Allison focused on the way light reacts with the architectural form of the space and how it could be enhanced for those with both normal vision and for the partially sighted. Allison will return in the fall to complete her B.A.E./M.A.E. degree.

Brendan Cullen’s thesis project focused on the design of a ground-coupled heat pump system for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, located in Grand Rapids, MI. His mechanical systems redesign compared a ground-source system designed to meet the building loads in their entirety to a hybrid system utilizing supplemental cooling equipment. Part of the project also included a study on the most cost effective ground-loop layout in terms of borehole depth and the total number bores to be drilled. Upon graduating in May of 2003, Brendan plans to move to Northern Virginia where he will be working for Girard Engineering as a mechanical design engineer in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area.

Joseph DiIenno’s mechanical thesis focused on the feasibility of energy recovery in conjunction with the application of a redesigned central cooling and heating plant. The building analyzed was The QIAGEN Sciences United States Manufacturing and Research Facility located in Germantown, MD. Joe’s mechanical design focused on the use of a total energy recovery system for the existing 100% outdoor air air-handling units and the redesign of the central cooling and heating plants utilizing gas-fired double-effect absorption chiller heaters. Joe will be graduating in December 2003 with a B.A.E./M.A.E. degree. Future plans include time off to travel Italy after graduation.

Using recent trends in steel construction, Amy Graver’s thesis investigated design modifications to minimize labor costs on the Plaza at PPL Center in Allentown, PA. Focusing on economy, the modifications included a low seismic design and analysis with a comparison of four moment frame systems: special, intermediate, ordinary, and moment frames not detailed specifically for seismic resistance. The moment frames were then compared to a brace frame system not detailed for seismic resistance. Amy graduated in May with a B.A.E./M.A.E. degree and has accepted a job with Simpson Gumpertz and Heger in Rockville, MD.

Jenny Holden's thesis focused on the renovation to the National Archives Building in downtown Washington, D.C. All of her investigations were aspects of the project that the building team wished to analyze further. She first looked at the possibility of renovating this historic facility while it was unoccupied, in order to show how this could save significant time on the schedule. Next, she investigated how the temporary mechanical system could be laid out differently so that the trades involved in the early stages of the project would have fewer coordination issues. Her redesign portion of the project involved the new theater that would be constructed underneath the exterior monumental stairs on Constitution Avenue. She changed some of the design aspects of the room in order to improve the acoustics in the space. Shortly after graduating this spring with a B.A.E./ M.A.E. degree, she will be getting married and moving to Santa Monica, CA where she will work for Morley Builders as a Project Engineer.

The Corron Cultural Center, the heart of which is a 1000-seat theater at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA was Sara Lapanno’s thesis project. The main focus of her study was the lighting design of four areas: the audience chamber in the theater, the lobby, the classroom, and the exterior façade. Several secondary analyses were also performed to study further the audience chamber. Those involved mechanical, acoustical, and electrical studies as well as a cost analysis of the revised lighting design proposal. Sara will be retuning to Penn State in the fall to complete her B.A.E./M.A.E. degree

James Meacham investigated different heating and cooling plants for the University of Pennsylvania Pre K-8 grade school, located in Philadelphia, PA. His main focus was on annual energy cost reduction. It was found that replacing the current dual fuel boilers with natural gas boilers, and switching the current chillers with a smaller chiller and ice storage tanks, along with an enthalpy wheel to reduce overall building load, saved on first cost and operating cost. There also was minimal schedule impact. James also researched the use of 3D CAD by mechanical design-build contractors. Five companies were investigated to analyze implementation strategies of 3D CAD. It was found that each company introduced and uses 3D CAD to enhance a process that they already do well. James will intern with Southland Industries this summer, and complete his B.A.E. in construction management and M.A.E. in mechanical systems in Fall 2003.

Michelle Mentzer chose a residential high-rise in New York City for her structural thesis. Her goal was to develop a system to support heavy cladding loads that could not be supported by the thin cantilevered slabs of the original design. This would allow architectural precast panels to replace the light weight metal panels previously specified. She designed a large truss system at roof level with hanging tension members to support the panels. Her design dealt with the structural aspects as well as architectural changes and construction management issues. Michelle will return in the fall to complete her B.A.E./M.A.E. degree.

PENNHARMONICS
Entertainment at the awards banquet was provided by the Pennharmonics, one of the premiere a cappella groups at Penn State. AE 5th year Peter Drake (far right) is a member of the coed group that has been performing both on and off campus since 1992. The group has performed as far away as St. Louis, MO, as well as closer to home at schools in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. For several years, they have also competed in the annual International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. This year, the Pennharmonics took first place in both quarter-finals and semi-finals which led them to a stellar performance on Broadway on April 26-27, 2003.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE

2003 JURY LIST

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS LIST

SPECIAL THANKS

A special thank you to all those who generously sponsored the cost of some of our student meals at the Senior Banquet. This is an enormous help to the Department in defraying the cost of the banquet and is greatly appreciated by both the Department and the student