Buildings and Data Around Us

We’re proud of our resume, we work with 2 Fortune 100 technology companies, supporting their sites and facilities that bring research and great ideas to life.

Splitting Edge Axe Throwing

SSM was involved in a renovation project to structurally evaluate the existing roof structure for support of new units for heating and cooling the axe-throwing space. The roof structure is composed of wood framing supported on riveted steel trusses. The roof is original to the building and dates to the late 1800s, when steel was just becoming a common material for roof construction.

When the building owner opted to support the units along the centerline of the building, SSM developed the structural design drawings for a new steel frame to be supported on the existing steel trusses. SSM then verified that the existing trusses were capable of supporting the added weight.

Chiller Plant Study & Design Corporate Offices & Data Center

SSM developed a plan to convert a chilled water plant consisting of two independent chilled water systems comprised of 2 – 600 ton chillers (N+1) and associated pumps and 2 – 250 ton chillers (N+1) and associated pumps to a single system consisting of 3 – 400 ton chillers and associated pumps.

The project goal was to create a single central chilled water plant providing N+1 redundancy and development of a new sequence of operation allowing for automatic operation of the plant including automatic energizing of redundant equipment in the event of failure and rotation of equipment to equalize runtime.

Lincoln University

SSM provided structural engineering for an approximately 15,000 square foot addition to the Student Union and Services Building at Lincoln University. The project included significant upgrades to the existing building area. The existing two-story concrete framed building was expanded on three sides by the addition of a two-story steel framed structure. The upgrades included the addition or modification of a mailroom, bookstore, cinema viewing area, offices, game room, two-story atrium, storage and maintenance areas, and a multi-purpose area. The existing structure was analyzed and reinforced as required for new loads, including new rooftop mechanical equipment. The structural design included design of foundations, ground floor slab, retaining walls, elevated floor slabs, steel framing, and roof deck.

SSM performed construction phase services including structural shop drawing reviews, responding to contractor's Request for Information (RFI), and occasional site visits to review construction.

SSM performed a High Strength Wastes Review of the Lincoln University facilities and its Wastewater Treatment Plant which included a detailed review of  potential discharges from disinfectants and cleaning chemicals and materials, boiler blowdown chemicals such as corrosion control inhibitors and Biocides, and other chemicals including the use of Quaternary Ammonia products and their effects and toxicity to the treatment plant biomass. SSM also performed treatment process troubleshooting and developed solutions for mitigating the effects from these harmful and toxic discharges.

Shark Finn Inn and Restaurant | C2 Architects | SSM engineers provided design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for the conversion of a former furniture store into the 7,000 square foot restaurant and bar.

Fresh City Restaurant | C2 Architects | SSM engineers provided design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for 4,200 square foot restaurant in the Livingston Town Center Mall.

Fitness Center | Olympus America Inc. | SSM assessed the existing HVAC systems capability to support the renovation of a portion of the first floor of Building D creating a fitness center. We reviewed the existing capacity of the HVAC system serving the area that may become a fitness center including expansion of the toilet room area into a toilet room and shower area and provided a letter summary of the evaluation including description of the work required to adapt the existing HVAC system to serve the fitness area and highlight potential areas of concern.

Performing Arts Center | SMG | Provided structural engineering services to perform an investigation to determine the cause of the mezzanine ceiling failure at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. SSM services included analysis of a fly bridge over the stage and investigations of a mezzanine and masonry wall.

Structural Capacity | Tait Towers | SSM structural engineers provided services at this musical performance practice facility for large productions. Services included determining maximum hoist loads, studies to determine floor capacities for carts, and structural review analysis for building cranes and roof top units.

Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission | Pennsylvania Military Museum | SSM provided engineering services to support the installation of two, 14-inch diameter, 53-foot-long gun barrels from the Battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) on a concrete pedestal. Oversaw a geotechnical investigation and prepared structural designs to design pedestal that would approximate the manner in which the guns appeared on the ship, including a 28’ diameter disc that replaces the ship’s turret.

USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was the lead ship of the Pennsylvania class of United States Navy super-dreadnought battleships. At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Pennsylvania was in drydock in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. She was one of the first ships in the harbor to open fire as Japanese dive and torpedo bombers roared out of the high overcast. Repairs were made to enable Pennsylvania to steam to the Marshall Islands where she was used as a target ship in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini atoll during July 1946. She was then towed to Kwajalein Lagoon where she decommissioned on 29 August. She remained in Kwajalein Lagoon for radiological and structural studies until 10 February 1948, when she was sunk stern first off Kwajalein. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 19 February. Two of her 14-inch guns are now kept outside the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania The project also included reconfiguration of power supplies to the equipment to reduce single points of failure. The construction documents included instructions for phasing of construction to maintain operation of the existing plant while modifications and interconnection of the various subsystems was accomplished. The reconfiguration maximized the reuse of the existing piping network and power distribution.