architectural engineering: construction

Anthony Jurjevic

Home

Resume and Bio

Building Statistics

Thesis Abstract

Tech Assignments

Thesis Research

Thesis Proposal

Presentation

Final Report

Reflection

Building Statistics Part 2

OFFICE RENOVATION BUILDING

Note: While great efforts have been taken to provide accurate and complete information on the pages of CPEP, please be aware that the information contained herewith is considered a work‐in‐progress for this thesis project. Modifications and changes related to the original building designs and construction methodologies for this senior thesis project are solely the interpretation of Anthony Jurjevic. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the original design contained errors or was flawed. Differing assumptions, code references, requirements, and methodologies have been incorporated into this thesis project; therefore, investigation results may vary from the original design.

This page was last updated on 10/11/2010

This pages is hosted by the Department of Architectural Engineering© 2010/2011

Text Box: BUILDING SUMMARY

  The Office Renovation Building is one of the largest civil buildings owned by the General Services Administration. Completed in 1932, the structure houses 1.8 million square feet of office space for a variety of government agencies. Located in a downtown metropolitan area in the northeastern part of the United States, the $500 million project is scheduled for completion in multiple phases during the next 13 years. While over 3,500 workers continue to occupy the historic building, the project will use a swing space completed in phase 1 of its construction to move employees out of the construction zones. Gilbane Buildng Company and Grunley Construction have formed a joint venture to act as the project’s general contractor for phases 1, 2, and 3.

 

  The seven story Indiana limestone façade and granite base structure will be undergo a major modernization to upgrade all major building systems. Once complete, the building will sport new fire and life-safety systems, enhanced perimeter security, and high-efficiency electrical and HVAC systems. A major focus of the project is to achieve LEED silver certification for the Office Renovation Building. This accreditation will be attained primarily through energy efficient systems and the re-use and recycling of existing materials.

 

  The eight phase project of the entire modernization will following the swing space created in courtyard 6 constructed in phase 1; phases 2 through 8 will begin on the southern side of the building and will progressively concluded on the north side next to the swing space.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

Building renovation breakdown by phase

   This report’s analysis will focus strictly on the second phase of the renovation. During this phase, the structure’s entire exterior façade will undergo complete restoration in addition to the abatement and demolition of the corresponding area’s interior offices. Also, the construction of an Electrical Equipment Enclosure (EEE) is to be erected within one of the building’s interior courtyards.

Text Box: CONSTRUCTION

  Considering that the Office Renovation Building project is mostly comprised of renovation work, demolition is the first major step of the structure’s modernization. With the building’s first major renovation since its original completion, much of the demolition work will be comprised of the abatement of all asbestos containing materials.

 

  Gilbane-Grunley has organized a top-down sequencing schedule for the Phase 2 demolition of interior spaces. Crews will begin on the project’s seventh floor proceeding with the removal of any furniture and asbestos free materials. The abatement subcontractor will follow with their scope of work as soon as each floor is cleared accordingly. Because of the size of the phase 2 space and the amount of asbestos containing materials present throughout the structure, abatement crews will be working both day and night shifts. A heavy emphasis has been placed on night abatement to pose minimal impact on any other work that may be put in place. Interior abatement has already begun and will not conclude until October of 2011, a month prior to the project’s scheduled completion.

 

  The restoration of all exterior windows also portrays a major process within the demolition of the project. The windows have not been renovated since the building’s construction in 1932 and most of which are no longer operable. All 5,700 windows are historically designated and covered in lead paint. At the building’s exterior, crews will strip each window and repaint them to match their initial state. Within the interior of the building, Gilbane-Grunley has scheduled to dismantle and reinstall each counter-weight system to make the windows operable as originally designed.

 

  Other work within phase 2 includes the demolition of the courtyard 1 roof and existing chiller plant located in the building’s courtyard 1 basement.

Text Box: ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING

  The building electric service is primarily 208V and is supplied through various transformers and switchgear that have been modified over the years. Most of the electrical work is comprised within the construction of the structure’s new Electrical Equipment Enclosure. Four (4) 13.8 KV feeders from PEPco Power, an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of The Exelon Corporation, will be provided will to (4) Medium Voltage (MV) switchgear. Also, MV power will be distributed to (4) transformer vaults.  One transformer vault will be dedicated to the new courtyard 1 chiller plant and the remaining (3) vaults will provide building power. The entire electrical system will be backed up by three (3) emergency generators each rated at 2000Kw.

 

   A key element to the project scope strictly defines that there is to be no interruption of the electric services to facilities occupied by the Government or others unless permitted. This is due to the sensitive nature of government work taking place within the building during construction. Gilbane-Grunley has been sure to take every precautionary measure in regards to the project’s electrical work and will support the temporary feeding within the existing building electric service. PEPCO Power is the main provider of electrical energy for the Office Renovation Building.

 

  The new lighting fixtures to be installed throughout the Office Renovation Building Primarily consist of generic Office and Corridor lighting design. Most offices will present high efficient Ledalite (Purefx) T5 recessed fluorescent lights with die-formed, 22 gauge cold-rolled steel housing, flat acrylic panels and extruded curved acrylic lenses with electric ballasts. Most corridors will utilize Hubbel compact fluorescent vapolet luminaries with glass globes. Also, a number of fixtures within the building’s first floor lobbies are historic; they are to be restored to their original state operating at the discretion of the lighting engineer and architect.

Text Box: MECHANICAL

  The Herbert Hoover Building was built in the late 1920s.  The building is heated by means of steam radiators along the perimeter of the building combined with a dual duct HVAC system.  The steam is supplied from a central steam plant that feeds multiple buildings throughout the District of Columbia. Chilled water for cooling is supplied from an onsite chiller plant.

 

  The Office Renovation Building project includes a complete upgrade of MEP systems during phase 2 of construction.  New open-circuit, induced draft, cross flow cooling towers were in installed above the eighth floor penthouse adjacent to courtyard 5 in phase 1.

 

  During phase 2, Gilbane-Grunley Joint Venture (GGJV) is to replace the existing steam utilization system with a new hot water heating system that will feed several thousand fan coil units. GGJV is to also upgrade the structure’s mechanical system with new shell-and-tube heat exchangers in addition to the utilization of gasketed plate heat exchangers. For the building’s cooling, three (3) new electrical centrifugal water chillers will be installed in the chiller plant located in the courtyard 1 basement, they will also feed into the structure’s numerous fan coil units. Finally, direct outside air handlers will provide ventilation air for the mechanical system.

 

  The systems are to perform in compliance with ASHRAE 90.1-1999 minimum energy performance at full and part load conditions. This is to help the building operate with greater efficiency while earning 7 LEED points under EA credit 1: Optimization of Energy Performance; the renovation is scheduled to earn at least 10 points in the Energy and Atmosphere division of LEED version 2.2 for New Construction and Major Renovations.

Text Box: STRUCTURAL

  Limited new construction work will regard the building’s structural system. With the Office Renovation Building’s completion in the late 1920’s, the existing structural system is composed of steel columns, girders, and beams encased in concrete. To the contrast of the typical construction practice of reinforced concrete structures in the area; the Office Renovation Building was completed prior to today’s modern day applications of reinforcement and fireproofing.  Terra cotta tile blocks compose the existing building’s structural floor spans, the 305 mm wide blocks are placed between 102 mm wide reinforced concrete ribs. This was also common practice for the area’s building construction means and methods during the building’s time of erection.

  The Electrical Equipment Enclosure to be built in courtyard 1 is to be erected of structural steel columns and beams and cast in place flat plate slabs.

 

    Limited cast in place concrete will be put in place on the Office Renovation building project. The Electrical Equipment Enclosure is the only segment of phase 2 that will require any new construction. Two additional floors will be erected on top of an existing structure in courtyard 1. Following the placement of the enclosure’s structural steel, CIP flat plate slabs will be placed at the two corresponding floor levels.  Horizontal slab formwork consisting of standard plywood sheets will be utilized. This floor structure has been chosen because of the electrical equipment designated for the area. Concrete slabs will be poured via pump. Concrete trucks will utilize the closely located material staging area to park their trucks while pumps will be brought in through the building and into the adjacent courtyard.

Text Box: FIRE PROTECTION

   A Wet-Type, Manual Class I Standpipe system is to be installed throughout the Office Renovation Building. The system is to include DN 65 hose valves with DN 85 65 x DN 40 reducer connections while operating under standard pressure (minimum of 1200 kPa for working pressures).

 

  Additionally, the project scope requires GGJV to provide a complete wet-pipe automatic sprinkler system that is to be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in addition to amendment NFPA 241- Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations. GGJV has proceeded with the installation of a temporary wet-pipe sprinkler system that is to be installed throughout all occupied portions of the building. The Gilbane-Grunley team is also responsible for the design and installation of an automatic dry-pipe sprinkler system that is to be operational in the building’s loading docks, basement level, and emergency generator areas located on the second and fourth floor in courtyard 1.

 

Text Box: CONVEYING SYSTEMS

   The Office Renovation Building currently houses a total of 28 elevators throughout its layout. During phase 2 of construction, Gilbane-Grunley is responsible for the maintenance and restoration of 4 elevators located within the project’s phase line. GGJV will also provide materials, labor, and services necessary for the complete installation of two elevators (specified as elevators 29 and 30). At the request of the owner, manufactured standard pre-engineered type equipment will not meet the requirements of the installation. The new elevators are to comply with ANSI/ASME A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators in addition to the ADA and Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines 2004. The 4500 lb capacity elevators have explicit operating performance criteria of which will require the conveying systems to have a floor-to-floor time of less than 12 seconds and a completely independent self-leveling system to help correct for the overtravel/undertravel of the elevators.

Text Box: TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 This scope of work has not been listed at the request of the owner.