Building Statistics

► building name: The Regional Learning Alliance Center ► location and site: 850 Cranberry Woods Drive Cranberry Township PA, 16066.     The building resides in the Cranberry Woods Office Park and was designed to surround the natural wetlands of the site. ► building occupant name: Regional Learning Alliance Learning and Conference Center ► occupancy/function types: Mixed used; primarily educational and conference space ► size: 76,000 square feet ► number of stories: Total of 3 stories, with 2 above grade ► dates of construction: 10/15/04 - 08/24/05 ► building construction cost: $14,290,677 ► project delivery method: Design-Bid-Build ► project team: DISCIPLINE COMPANY/FIRM Owner Regional Learning Alliance CM / GC Landau Building Company Architect Renaissance 3 Architects Civil Engineer & Landscape Architect Mackin Engineering Structural Engineer Barber & Hoffman Inc. MEP & Fire Protection Tower Engineering   A R C H I T E C T U R E ►design & functional components: Driving the design, the building's L-shaped footprint was created to embrace the site's natural wetlands, while seperating them from the parking area. This design aspect, along with the use of clearstory windows, helps to provide maximum daylight for the interior space. The 2-story structure includes an assortment of spaces that help the building to serve as a model in higher education. The first floor is comprised of three main areas. The north wing, contains the building's main atrium/lobby, along with discussion classrooms used for educational conferenced and the Cyber Fresh Caffe; the facility's central kitchen and dining area. The first floor's southeast and northeast wings house a wellness training center, child development center, computer lab, additional classrooms equipped with the latest technology, and the main auditorium. While the second floor houses one of the two computer labs, it is primarily composed of office space and discussion classrooms. Obtaining a USGBC LEED Silver certification, the buildin's exterior facade is characterized by it's eccentric shape, and the usage of recycled steel, concrete and low maintenance materials. Brick masonry, kynar-coated metal panels and frames and exposed aluminum sunshades and finishes were implemented wherever feasible. 11.27 % of the total building materials content has been manufactured using recycled materials. ►codes: BOCA-1996, NFPA-13-1000 ►zoning: due to the surrounding wetlands, The Regional Learning Alliance falls in the SP-1 (Special Growth) category of Cranberry Township's zoning ordinance. ►historical requirements: not applicable ►building envelope description: The RLA building envelope encompasses the following 3 main wall type systems: 1.) A curved, reinforced aluminum curtainwall system with vertical butt glazed joints that encloses the 2-story atrium/lobby on southwest side of the building (see photo one). Isolation joints at the base of the wall are provided from the cast in place column base which supports exterior 30" round concrete columns covering structural steel columns. These columns support a 3" aluminum tube and panel V.O. George sunshade construction which protects the entire length of the wall. 2.) Typical red brick veneer system. Often occuring at the base of the structure's walls, it is composed of a 2" air space with air barrier on 1" exterior grade gypsum sheating, 6" structural engineered metal studs with 6" batting insulation and a continuous vapor barrier behind a 5/8" - 1" interior GWB. 3.) Silver corrugated metal panel system with exposed fasteners. Often used in conjunction with the brick veneer, it is similar to an aluminum storefront system. Panels are placed on AI barrier on 5/8" gypsum sheating (Densglass), with 6" metal studs, batting insulation and a continuous vapor barrier. A similar flat metal panel system is used, with 1" exterior sheating and a GWB finish. The roof is a composition of rigid insulation with a concrete slab on composite metal deck. The finished membrane is a white EnergyStar compliant roof, chosen to help avoid the heat-island effect which can often occur with a darker selection.

M E C H A N I C A L
The Regional Learning Alliance has (2) main air handlers. The first is an Aaon, single zone, constant volume unit.  10,000 CFM of supply air is provided through (8) 72/6 linear bar grilles to the two-story lobby and atrium. The unit, which is located in the first floor Maintenance Garage provides outdoor air through a 96” x 36” Greenheck high intake louver located on the west façade of the building. A 100/11 return duct re-circulates air back to the unit.

The second 22,500 CFM variable volume Aaon rooftop unit, supplies 100% outdoor air through VAV boxes to (50) E.H. Price fan coil units (containing both hot water and chilled water coils) throughout the zones.  This air then mixes with recirculated air in the fan coil units to provide supply air to each space. CO2 sensors in each space control the amount of outdoor air provided through the VAV units.  The air-handling unit conditions the air by use of a total heat recovery wheel, bypass damper, direct expansion coil and hot-gas reheat coil and humidifier.  The heat wheel stops when outdoor air conditions permit economizer operation, providing cooling for the spaces. The discharge air temperature controller, with its set point reset by OA, sequences heating and cooling. The reset schedule is OAT above 90 F, discharge set point at 55F OAT below 45F with the discharge air set point at 70F.

Trane unit heaters are located in the maintenance garage and mechanical rooms, while cabinet unit heaters varying from 9.7-27.8 MBH heat stairwells, vestibules and certain storage areas. A dedicated air conditioning unit serves the second floor Technology Center, while a separate 8.4 MBH split fan coil unit (DX cooling with remote condensing unit) provides ventilation for the first floor Telecomm Room.

P L U M B I N G
The building’s hot water system is served by a 75-ton Aaaon LL Series Chiller, utilizing environmentally friendly R-140A refrigerant. A 53-gallon Bell & Gossett expansion tank, along with (2) 165 GPM in-line Aaon pumps are used to circulate the chilled water flow to the building’s fan coil units and piping system.  Similarly, (2) Lochinvar natural gas boilers and a 105 gallon Bell & Gossett expansion tank supply hot water to the fan coil units and various mechanical equipment. (4) 100 gallon Bradford White gas water heaters, along with (2) 60-gallon Wessel expansion tanks provide for the domestic hot water system.

L I G H T I N G
The Regional Learning Alliance is designated into (3) main areas; office space, classroom/discussion space and lobby/atrium space. A typical enclosed office is illuminated by recessed static 2’x4’ (3) lamp fluorescent troffers with indirect reflector and round perforated, center mounted metal shield. Depending on the space, the H.E. Williams, Focal Point fixtures provide 58-85 W. Open offices are illuminated by direct/indirect pendant mounted, (3)-lamp fluorescent fixtures with dual switching, providing 87W per 4’ section. Larger conference rooms utilize LiteLab, LSI, 4’ long surface mounted 3-circuit track with 3 tapered yoke track heads, providing up to 750W, while smaller board rooms are illuminated by recessed, found 8” horizontal lamp compact fluorescents with semi-specular reflectors and dimming ballast.  More decorative wall-mounted and pendant-mounted fixtures with indirect reflectors and halide downlights adorn the lobby and atrium spaces. Lighting and motion sensors are used in the classroom and discussion spaces as an energy-saving device

E L E C T R I C A L
A 12.47 kVA Penn Power service line is stepped down through the utility transformer, located on the North side of the building and is distributed through the building as a primary 480Y/277V (3P,4W). The main switchboard is covered by a 1600 Amp bus with minimum 42K AIC and ground fault and phase-loss protection. It is grounded by a 3/0 AWG Copper wire in EMT conduit. (4) Transformers are used to convert this primary voltage into 280Y/120 secondary for smaller loads, mechanical equipment and receptacles. The buildings 20HP elevator system is protected by a 100A, 3-phase busman switch off the main switchboard. Feeder conduit varies in size from 1”-4”, with phase anywhere from 30A-1600A overcurrent protection. The main distribution panel board serves (22) other MLO and MCB panelboards located throughout the building. The (10) MLO boards vary in size from 100A-400A, with 225A being standard, while MCB boards range from 50-400 A (3-phase).  The entire building is protected by a 35 kW natural gas emergency generator, which can be activated by either a 60A/4P or 30A/4P automatic transfer switch with overlapping neutrals.

S T R U C T U R A L
The deep foundation of the building is comprised of caissons ranging in diameter from 30”-42”, with a 2’-0” caisson cap. 30”diameter caissons utilize 6-#7 vertical reinforcing with #3@14” ties, while larger 42” caissons use 8-#9 vertical reinforcing and #3@18” ties. Grade beams varying in size from 1’-6” x 3’-0” to 3’-0” x 3’-0” help to distribute floor loads amongst these foundations. A 16” reinforcing wall and 5” concrete slab on grade with 6x6- W2.1x2.1 WWF can be found below grade. The first floor is reduced to a 4” concrete slab on grade with 6x6-W2.1xW2.1 WWF, while the second floor is supported by W-shaped beams and girders, HSS, and a 3-1/2” regular weight concrete floor on 2”-20 gauge composite metal deck with 6x6-W2.1xW2.1 WWF.  Portions of the flat roof is supported by either 1-1/2”-20 gauge wide rib (Type B) metal roof deck or 5 ply laminated wood decking (3-1/2” deep) or 4” nominal solid sawn wood decking. The sloped atrium wood roof is framed using gluelam beams and headers.

All footings were designed at 3,000 psi, while interior slabs on grade, grade beams, walls and concrete on metal deck were designed at 4,000 psi. Structural steel W and S shapes (ASTM A572/50) have a design stress of Fy=50,000 psi. Columns range in size from W10x33 to W14x120. The roof live load was designated at a minimum of 30 psf.Floor live loads were designated and reduced per BOCA, Section 1606.7 to a max reduction of 40%.

F I R E P R O T E C T I O N
Each of the (3) floors of the Regional Learning Alliance are fully protected by a wet pipe automatic sprinkler system. Depending on structural and architectural design, dry pendent sprinklers, exposed upright sprinklers, semi-recessed pendants or sidewall sprinklers are utilized throughout the building. Piping was sized to provide 0.10 GPM over the hydraulically most remote 1500 SF for light hazard, while ordinary hazard areas were calculated in accordance with NFPA 13-1999. The actual annunciation alarm system consists of both audio and visual devices. (8) Fire extinguishers cabinets are located on the first floor, (6) on the second and (1) in the basement.

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N
(1) 20 HP elevator and (5) stairwells help to circulate traffic throughout the Regional Learning Alliance.  The elevator, which is opens up to the North lobby of the first floor, and the Interaction Space on the second, also descends into the basement.  All transportation components meet ADA requirements.

T E L E C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
Each of the building’s (26) classrooms and computer labs include wireless and wired internet access, computer and video projection systems, DVD players and interactive whiteboards. Electric, motorized projection screens operate on 120 VAC.  Duplex and quadraplex receptacles, along with separate audiovisual junction boxes are provided for such equipment.

A separate Server Room and Technology Center are located on the second floor behind the shared RLA/Tenant Reception area. An open floor plan computer interaction space is also provided on the second floor lobby.