The New RLPS Architects Offices Lancaster, PA To be completed Januray 2013
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Brice Ohl - Mechanical Option |
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Building
Statistics Part 1
General Building
Data
Building Name: New Office
Building for Reese, Lower, Patrick & Scott Architects, LTD.
Location and site: 250 Valleybrook Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
Building Occupant
Name:
Reese, Lower, Patrick & Scott Architects, LTD.
Occupancy: Business
Size: 22,568 SF
Number of stories
above grade:
One story with a mezzanine
Primary
Project Team:
Construction Dates: Fall 2011 -January 2013
Cost Information: $1,000,000
Electrical, $900,000 Mechanical, $440,000 Plumbing/Fire Protection
Project Delivery
Method:
Design-Bid Build
Architecture
Architecture:
As
you can imagine when architectural firms design their own offices, they are not
only creating a working environment, but a statement on who they are. Reese, Lower, Patrick & Scott have clearly made the statement
that they are modern, adaptable, and innovative. Aesthetically from the
exterior the new offices are balance of dark stone veneer, light grey stucco,
and plenty of glass. Additionally, the sleek looking copper roof is pitched
evenly at 45 degrees allowing for second level windows for this one story
building. Furthermore, clerestories are utilized in several specific locations
and interior courtyard is separated from the office buy large folding glass
windows and doors, allowing for great levels of natural light. The interior
has a mixture of spaces ranging from large open studios, individual offices,
a bistro, and group work spaces of all sizes. The interior design used has a
great way of making all of the rooms collectively fit together, yet have a
unique feel. Some spaces are exposed to the roof pitch with clearly visible
finished wood trusses, while others have level drop ceilings, and still
others are unexposed, but show the pitch. Each space was clearly designed for
a specific purpose. The studios are large and open to maximize the
collaboration, the print area is screened (but not separated from the work
areas) to reduce noise, and the bistro is a central piece that allows
everyone to come together. Finally, the space are flexible, though made for
specific purposes there are plans for studios to be added or existing studios
to be converted to a grand hall. Overall, the new offices for RLPS are
designed to be not just a workplace, but a place to socialize, a place to
learn, and a place to grow.
Major National Codes: International
Building Code 2006, ICC/ANSI 117.1-1998, NFPA 13, ASHRAE 62.1 (2004)
Zoning: The new RLPS Offices
are being constructed on a formerly vacant duo of lots consisting of 40.1
acres. They are under the jurisdiction of Manheim Township, Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. The lots are zoned as a business building as a part of the
township’s Business B-1 district.
Historical
Requirements:
Does not apply
Building Enclosure
Building Facades: Stone veneer and
exterior gray stucco will be the primary façade. They will be placed
on 2x6 lumber. Additionally, a large number of high
R-value wooden framed windows are being incorporated so all workspaces can
use natural light. The interior courtyard is framed with Nana folding glass
doors and glass walls.
Roofing: A cascading roof
made of standing seam copper is being used. Pitched at 12/12 in most areas
and 6/12 in a few specific areas, a number of different truss groups are used
to cover all off the different areas. The roof supported by wooden scissors
trusses. While the standard roof construction of seamed copper, roof felt,
R-38 nail-able insulation panels, and ply wood is rather consistent
throughout the building, some spaces the pitch is visible so the underside of
the roof construction is finished wood, while in other spaces a drop ceiling
is utilized and the underside painted black and used to conceal mechanical equipment.
Sustainable Features
Sustainability
was a large consideration for RLPS when they designed their new office. They
designed a great number of features and left themselves with options for future
incorporation of sustainable technologies. A major early decision for the
owners was to orientate the longer side of the building east-west which had
an estimated 30% reduction in energy usage by allowing for the maximum use of
day lighting. Additionally, the new offices will incorporate a grey water
collection system the uses a below grade cistern to supply the water closets
and possibly irrigation. A hybrid ventilation system was considered, which
would have used the interior courtyard for natural ventilation during
appropriate conditions. This was ultimately not constructed, but is an option
for the future. Finally, the new offices are in contention for LEED approval,
but a final decision has not been made on if a LEED rating is required. To
date mandatory LEED credits have been achieved as well as other points
allowing for application for accreditation in the future.
Building
Statistics Part 2
Primary Engineering
Systems
Construction
The
New Office Building is being constructed using a Design-Bid-Build Delivery
Method with Warfel Construction acting as the
general contractor. The current completion date is January 2013. However, it
should be noted that construction was originally intended to begin in fall
2008, but was delayed by the owners for several reasons. The early estimated
MEP costs are $2,340,000.
Electrical
The
electrical service to the new office building will be provided by
Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL). A pad mounted transformer has been
installed north of the building, just outside of the primary ground level
mechanical space. The transformer will provide 208/120V, 3 Phase, 4 wire
power. Service to the transformer will be provided by a new utility pole
connected by subgrade concrete encased PVC conduit. The primary connection to
the building will be made in the ground level mechanical room, which serves
all other spaces. The primary location of the connecting conduit and wires is
either above the drop ceiling in the work spaces or the mechanical mezzanine.
Lighting
The
lighting of the new office building varies greatly with each space. The open
work spaces primarily use 50 watt 2x2 Recessed Volumetric Luminaires. The
smaller work areas and offices use Strip Lights mounted in architectural cove
and down lights of varying size and power. The bistro and surrounding areas
utilize pendant luminaires with custom finish and high-bay style luminaire.
Finally, the owners’ offices vary in there lighting design per the
occupant’s request. In
total there are over 30 different luminaires being used in the new office
building. Each has a different type and frequency of use.
Mechanical
The
primary mechanical system of the new office building features an eight loop
ground source system with the well field located north of the building,
partially under the parking lot. The refrigerant from the well field enters
the building in the ground level mechanical space where it is pumped to the
various terminal units by a 15 HP Pump. The terminal units serving each space
are a water source heat pump designed by capacity for each space and located
in most instances in the mechanical mezzanine. Additionally, these terminal
units are supplied by four large ventilation units located in the Area
‘E’ mechanical mezzanine. Condensate from the terminal units is pumped an collected in the ground level mechanical space.
Structural
The
new office buildings structure is a one story wood frame construction. The
framing members are Parallel Strand Lumber and the trusses are typically
2” x 4” dimensional lumber. The larger spaces are supported by
10” x 12” timber columns that directly transfer the load the
foundation below. The exterior wall construction is typically brick
façade with 2” x 6” stud walls for support. Wood panel
shear walls make up the lateral system. The various wall are typically fastened to the foundation through anchor bolts. The foundation
is a 4” slab on grade concrete floor supported by CMU foundation walls
on the exterior. Some of the columns are also supported by spread footings on
the soil.
Engineering Support
Systems
Fire Protection
The
fire protection system was designed to NFPA 13 compliance. The automatic fire
protection system is has its primary pump and water supply connections on the
ground level mechanical space.
Telecommunications
The
cable and phone lines to the new office building will be provided from local
service providers. The cable and communications conduits from the service
connection to the building will share the same trench as the electrical
service and will be placed in concrete encased PVC.
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The Capstone Project Electronic Portfolio (CPEP) is a web‐based project and information center. It contains material produced for a year‐long Senior Thesis class. Its purpose, in addition to providing central storage of individual assignments, is to foster communication and collaboration between student, faculty consultant, course instructors, and industry consultants. This website is dedicated to the research and analysis conducted via guidelines provided by the Department of Architectural Engineering. For an explanation of this capstone design course and its requirements click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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‐inprogress 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 Brice Ohl. 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. |