Building Statistics Part I

Building Name: Emergency Department Expansion
Location and Site: 1800 Knights Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19114
Occupant: Aria Health System – Torresdale Campus
Function: Hospital
Size: 80,000 GSF

The new Emergency Department addition is 78,900 SF, consisting of three levels of new construction to replace the existing Emergency Department and plant operations. The project includes the demolition of the Annex Building and ED Modular Building. Level one consists of 14,000 SF, level two consists of 46,700 SF, and level three consists of 13,900 SF of shell space for future tenant fit-out, as well as 4,300 SF of finished space for corridor and connecting stair.

Number of Stories: 1 below, 2 above

Level one of the new Emergency Department at the Torresdale Campus for Aria Health consists of Facilities, Carpentry Shop, Biomed Lab, Information Technologies and Mechanical. Level two includes the new Emergency Department, ambulance entry and drop-off, walk-in entry and drop-off, Outpatient Lobby and renovated corridors to the existing hospital. Level three is intended for future tenant fit-out, as well as finished corridors, connecting stair, and elevator lobbies.
Primary Project Team:

Architect: Francis Cauffman Architects
CM: Tuner Construction Company
Structural Engineer: O’Donnell & Naccarato
MEP Enginner: PWI Engineering
Civil Engineer: Barry Isett & Associates, Inc.

Dates of Construction: January 2013 – July 2014

Project Delivery: Design-Bid-Build w/ CM at Risk

Architecture

Applicable Building Codes:

International Building Code – 2009 Edition
National Fire Protection Agency – Life Safety Code, NFPA 101-2000 Edition
2010 Edition – “Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Healthcare Facilities”
Healthcare Facilities NFPA 99
Commonwealth of PA Chapter 21. State Board of Nursing
ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003, Accessibility Standards
International Plumbing Code 2009 Edition
NFPA 70-2008 National Electric Code
International Energy Conservation Code 2009 Edition
International Mechanical Code (IMC) 2009 Edition
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) 2009 Edition
International Fire Code (IFC) 2009 Edition

Bulding Facade: The exterior walls vary by location. In the entrance area, the building utilizes an aluminum curtain wall assembly complete with insulated glass and composite metal paneling. The curtain wall is supported by curtain wall anchor points, which are attached to the steel superstructure. In other areas, wall assemblies are complete with sheathing, rigid insulation, and face brick, supported by 6” metal studs. Masonry anchors fasten the brick to the structural stud. Precast concrete panels with an exterior paint finish are also used extensively and are supported similarly to the face brick.

Sustainable Features: LEED Certified

Building Statistics Part II

Mechanical:

The Aria Expansion mechanical system consists of a traditional chiller/boiler system, with auxiliary components such as fan coil units and water source unit heaters. The building also includes some perimeter radiant heating, which is generated from hot water. On the cooling side, the system begins with water cooled chiller. Heat is absorbed by the refrigerant on the on the evaporator side, subsequently cooling the chilled water supply. On the condenser side, heat from the refrigerant is transferred to the condenser water supply, which is piped to the building cooling towers. The condenser water temperature then drops slightly, due to the heat being rejected to atmosphere within the cooling tower. The chilled water is then pumped the air handling units, where the water is transported through a coiling coil. The air handlers then mix return air with outside air and blow the mixed air through a series of filers. The filtered air then passes through the cooling coil, where the air condenses. The condensate is then trapped in a pan and drained. The now conditioned air is then ducted to the hospital VAV boxes, where the volume of air entering the occupied spaces is modulated. The VAV boxes are also equipped with hot water reheat coils for total temperature control. It should be noted that all areas supplied with outdoor air must be exhausted the same amount, unless the room is pressurized. Chilled water is also supplied to multiple fan coil units, which circulate room air over the cooling coil. Outdoor air in these areas is supplied by a dedicated outdoor air unit in the mechanical room. On the heating side of the hospital mechanical system, boilers supply hot water to circulate through a plate and frame heat exchanger. This heat exchanger transfers heat to a closed loop of reheat water, which is then pumped to the VAV box reheat coils, the AHU heating coil, unit heaters, and perimeter radiators. It should be noted that the air handling units are most likely cooling-only, due to the VAV system. The heating coil within the AHUs is probably for morning warm-up in the dead of winter, when the air temperature is very low.

Electrical:

Outside the new building, the medium voltage switchgear is being replaced with a 1200A, 13.2KV, 3PH, 500 MVA switchgear due to the increase load of the addition. Two electrical feeds are then run to the two separate 1000KVA, 13.2KV transformers. The electricity is then stepped down to 480/277V and fed to a substation located inside the new building mechanical room. Four electrical feeds run to the life safety/critical/equipment/elevator ATS panel, a 400A, 480./277V cooling tower breaker, the 600A, 480/277V boiler room switchgear (which powers all equipment), and a 400A, 480/277V distribution for branch circuits. The branch circuits employ multiple auxiliary transformers to step down from 480/277V to 120/208V. On the critical back up side, a new 1MW diesel generator feeds the existing main distribution panel, as well as the emergency distribution panel which powers the four automatic transfer switches for life safety, elevator, equipment, and critical power.

Plumbing and Fire Protection

The building is equipped with med gas, med air, and med vac, as well as a standard hot and cold domestic water system. A medical air compressor and a medical vacuum pump are located in the basement mechanical room of the new ED addition. The building fire suppression system includes wet and pre-action systems, depending on the occupancy rating for the rooms being served. In high danger areas, wet pipe, quick response upright sprinkler heads are capable of pumping out 0.2 GPM. In areas where accidental discharge is a concern, pre-action sprinkler heads require two actions to be released. This could include heating busting the sprinkler filament, smoke detector activation, or a pull station.

Structural:

The building begins with a reinforced concrete foundation wall, supported by a continuous strip footing. Concrete spread footings then support the remaining structural steel superstructure which is composed of composite beam and metal deck assembly. Slab on grade and slab on metal deck consist of normal weight concrete at a minimum compressive strength of 3500PSI, with the exception of the second floor Northwest deck slab which contains lightweight concrete. All concrete was cast in place within panelized forms using a pump truck.