Top Eight Senior Thesis
The 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 April 30, 2004:Peter K. Dahl's construction thesis project focused on the Pedestrian Walkback Tunnel Project at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. The structure transports passengers underground from the Main Terminal to Concourse B via six moving walkways and four story escalators. Dahl's analyses focused on implementing an alternate soil retention system on the project as well as evaluating various components curtain with ENERGY10 software. Dahl also investigated the project delivery systems within the airport market sector to analyze the impacts an owner has on the delivery process. Dahl will graduate with the M.A.E. degree in Fall 2004 and will pursue a Ph.D. in AE at Penn State.
Craig Dubler centered his construction thesis around improving the safety and sustainability of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, also know as the new National Air and Space Museum. The first goal was accomplished through the construction of two 4D CAD models. One model focused on the steel sequencing, while the other depicted hazards that occurred thought the construction process. The second goal was analyzed through a redesign of both the mechanical and water retention systems. This includes the addition of an enthalpy wheel as well as a porous pavement parking lot. His future plans include working with Hensel Phelps Construction Company on the National Zoo in Washington D.C.
Matthew Fahrenbach, a structural option student, completed his AE senior thesis on the newly opened National Constitution Center of Philadelphia, designed by architect Henry Cobb of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. For his depth study, he designed two structural systems to resist terrorist attacks: a blast resistant system and a progressive collapse resistant system. For his breadth studies, he analyzed the current site plan and made changes to increase the building's defended perimeter and also performed a cost analysis comparing the original system to the two newly designed systems. Following an August graduation, Matthew will be working in the fall for NV Homes in Thurmont, MD.
Brian Genduso completed his structural senior project on the University of Cincinnati Athletic Center, a multi-use athletic/administrative facility currently under construction. His thesis followed a three-step concept to redesign the original exterior structural system, a full-height truss called a diagrid, using a more efficient perimeter truss and braced frame solution. Integrated with the structural redesign were studies in daylighting and erection sequencing. Following graduation, Brian will become part of the engineering team at Hammel, Green and Abrahamson in Milwaukee, WI.
Casey Schardt focused on the addition to Howard County General Hospital for his lighting/electrical thesis project. His analyses included designing the lighting for three spaces: a lobby, nurse station, and videoconferencing room. He also focused on improving the electrical system reliability and on making the lighting design throughout the building more energy efficient. Schardt's future plans include a summer internship with Leach Wallace Associates in Baltimore and returning to Penn State in the fall to complete his M.A.E. degree.
Samuel M. Snyder considered a mechanical system redesign of the 40,000 sq. ft. Fairfield Community Arts Center currently under construction in Fairfield, OH, for his thesis project. The redesign included an investigation of coupling a dedicated outdoor air system with a ground source heat pump. The structural, electrical, and acoustical implications of the proposed design were also analyzed. Following graduation with both B.A.E. & M.A.E. degrees in May, he will begin working with Reese Engineering in State College, PA.
Adam P. Sontag’s mechanical system thesis project included an analysis of the 100,000 square-foot New Technology Building to be constructed on Naugatuck Valley Community College’s campus in Waterbury, CT. He focused on converting the overhead HVAC system to an underfloor air distribution system with a dedicated outdoor air system. Computational fluid dynamics analyses were performed to measure the system performance. Other areas of study included electrical equipment replacement, structural effects of the raised floor system, and various acoustical studies. Upon graduation, Sontag will be moving to Baltimore, MD, to begin his career with James Posey Associates.
Kathryn Trail conducted her lighting/electrical senior thesis project on the UPMC Sports Performance Complex in Pittsburgh, PA. The complex is composed of three buildings: Sports Medicine Facility, Training Facility, and Indoor Practice Facility. Offering training and administrative facilities, this complex is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. Trail focused her lighting redesign on the facade, Steelers lobby, cafeteria, and press/media room of the Training Facility, as well as the full-sized indoor football field housed in the Indoor Practice Facility. With the integration of daylighting added to the indoor field, structural framing was designed for the skylights and a mechanical analysis of the additional loads was conducted. Trail will be spending the summer with SmithGroup in Washington, D.C. as a lighting/electrical intern and returning to Penn State in the fall to complete her M.A.E.