Beating the Heat in the Dog Days of Summer

Dormitory HVAC Conversion | Marymount University

CHALLENGE | Existing dorm rooms in each building were served by fan coil units supplied by a two-pipe heating and cooling system. The scope of the project was to replace the existing fan coil units, greater than 270 individual units, and upgrade the existing two-pipe system to a four-pipe system in each building. The conversion was accentuated by the existing units being located in extremely tight spaces above the ceilings.

SERVICE | Mechanical Engineering and Construction Phase Services

SOLUTION | SSM provided detailed coordination with existing architecture and other utilities to successfully field survey and design the conversion. In addition, one of the Hall’s conversions also included replacement of the existing air-cooled chiller with two new 35 ton water-cooled heat recovery chillers and the addition of a dry cooler. The existing boilers were replaced with a new 600 MBH boiler, and new pumps were provided for the heating system as well as the cooling system. SSM also worked closely with the owner and the contractor to facilitate completion of the project during the construction phase.

Ironton Rail: Rails to Trails | North Whitehall Township

CHALLENGE | Half mile rails to trails project along the former Ironton Railroad right-of-way. The project extended the existing Ironton Rail Trail from its terminus to the North Whitehall Township Building/Park Property.

SERVICE | Civil engineering design, permitting, bid and construction phase services

SOLUTION | SSM prepared construction drawings for the half mile project as well as prepared documentation to obtain a Joint Permit from the PaDEP for the construction of gabion walls within the floodway and of trail sections within the floodplain of the Coplay Creek. The trail was improved with compacted gravel and included a 40’ span pedestrian bridge that crossed a tributary to the Coplay Creek.

Energy Audit & Systems Design | Children’s Beach House

CHALLENGE | Identify energy conservation opportunities to an approximate 20,000 square foot, two story facility that holds summer and weekend camps for children with communicative disabilities and other special needs. Energy audits and evaluations extend for multiple years and with consideration that the existing mechanical equipment was reaching the end of its useful life.

SERVICE | Energy audit

SOLUTION | SSM conducted multiple surveys and energy audits of the existing facility over the course of a number of years. In accordance with these audits, SSM recommended several no cost and low cost strategies for saving energy as well as some capital improvement projects that would impact energy efficiency. SSM performed a life cycle cost analysis of the HVAC systems to compare replacement in kind with a geothermal heat pump system and a variable refrigerant system (VRF), determining the VRF system offered the lowest overall lifecycle. SSM further assisted in completion of grant applications to fund the project and design of the HVAC renovation