Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
Renovation
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
76,000 sf
In 2011, as part of its capital campaign, BPMC embarked on a campus-wide initiative to upgrade HVAC and electrical systems serving approximately 76,000 square feet of space in the education building, the chapel, the main sanctuary and the activities building.
The project consisted of consolidating two heating systems into a single boiler plant, and adding a 100-ton chiller to the 160-ton system. In addition, reheat coils, a new humidifier and a dehumidification sequence were provided for the main sanctuary air handling unit in order to maintain the strict temperature and humidity requirements needed for the church’s famous Austrian organ.
WCx was hired by the owner’s representative to provide building systems commissioning for all of the upgraded systems. Test and balance repeatability verification was also performed.
Architect: Atkin Olshin Schade
The Challenge Program
Training and Education Center
Wilmington, Delaware
5,000 sf
The Challenge Program’s headquarters has been located in the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard on Wilmington’s East Side since 1992. As demand for its construction training services increased, the organization realized that trainees would benefit from a shop environment that fosters learning.
The new CTEC is built on the footprint of the former shop, with innovative and sustainable design that transforms the building into an educational tool. Green building technology, including a green roof, geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels and recycled building materials, are showcased.
WCx was hired to provide LEED fundamental commissioning services for the project, under LEED NC version 2.2. Systems commissioned include HVAC systems, lighting controls, a photovoltaic array, solar hot water heating and a gray water system.
Architect: DIGSAU
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Brock Environmental Center
Virginia Beach, Virginia
12,200 sf
Located in the Pleasure House Point area of Virginia Beach, the CBF Brock Environmental Center will feature cutting-edge green construction practices to meet the “Living Building Challenge,” a set of stringent, specific environmental standards established by the International Living Future Institute. These standards require the facility to have “net zero” impact on the environment, not only during construction but during its daily operation. It will be the first of its kind in Virginia. Additionally, CBF will seek the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rating for the project.
The center will become the hub for CBF’s Hampton Roads staff and the foundation’s award-winning environmental education programs, which take thousands of students and teachers onto local waterways each year for in-depth Bay learning experiences. It will also provide office space for Lynnhaven River NOW and Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation staff, and serve as a venue for community meetings and collaboration.
Of the 118 acres recently preserved at Pleasure House Point, the CBF Brock Environmental Center footprint will encompass approximately one acre. CBF also intends to enhance nine acres of surrounding land for educational programming and habitat restoration, using native landscaping and employing nearby waterways for high quality, hands-on field trips.
WCx will be providing LEED fundamental and enhanced commissioning of the building systems, including commissioning of the building envelope, photovoltaic arrays and wind turbines. WCx will also be providing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing services and Measurement and Verification (M&V) services post-occupancy as part of the Living Building Challenge criteria.
Architect: SmithGroupJJR
Rendering courtesy of SmithGroupJJR
Cliveden of the National Trust
Renovation*
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6,000 sf
Constructed between 1763 and 1767, Cliveden is the revolutionary period house of Benjamin Chew, the chief justice of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. In addition to its historic significance, Cliveden is one of the best preserved Georgian Colonial style mansions of the period and houses a collection of fine art, furniture, china and manuscripts.
The environmental systems upgrade project, completed in summer 2009, required a balanced approach, taking into account the preservation needs of the collection, building aesthetics, functionality and budget.
Systems commissioned include a chilled water loop with chiller and pumps, a hot water loop with boiler, primary and secondary pumps, an air handling unit with return fan, dehumidification cycle, humidification cycle and humidistatic heating sequence, and several secondary radiation loops.
Architect: Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Lobby and Office Renovation
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12,000 sf
Founded in 1824, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) is one of the nation’s principal centers for historical research housing 21 million documents spanning 350 years of American history. HSP predates the National Archives and Smithsonian, and rivals the Library of Congress in material relating to the founding of the nation, such as the first hand written draft of the U.S. Constitution and an original printer’s proof of the Declaration of Independence. HSP is the largest repository for ethnic and immigrant history and the third largest archive for genealogy in the United States. Located at 1300 Locust Street in Philadelphia for over one hundred years, HSP’s 88,000 SF, four-story red brick building was designed by Addison Hutton and is listed on the City of Philadelphia’s Register of Historical Places. The building is formerly the home of John Hare Powell, the founder of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, and then General Robert Patterson, a venerable Civil War general.
Wright Commissioning was hired to provide commissioning services for Phase I of a facility renovation project. While the building serves mainly as archival storage, this specific project is limited to the approximately 2,000 SF of the entrance lobby, east stair hall and membership office. The entrance lobby and east stair hall will be renovated and the membership office will be converted into a lounge area. The work also includes infrastructure upgrades to support new mobile high density storage in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor vaults. The total area of renovation is 12,000 SF.
Systems commissioned by WCx include HVAC, HVAC controls, plumbing, fire suppression, electrical and fire alarm.
Architect: SaylorGregg Architects
Lancaster Historical Society
Campus of History
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
30,000 sf
LancasterHistory.org is a community-based, non-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States.
The project consists of a new lower level and ground level library addition of 18,000 square feet connected to the existing 12,000 square foot building. WCx was hired by the owner to perform building systems commissioning for the following components: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life safety, and automatic controls.
Architect: Centerbrook Architects
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Shikellamy State Park Marina Research Building
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
13,600 sf
Pennsylvania DCNR engaged a design team to renovate a 10,000 square foot, two-story building in Shikellamy State Park’s marina section.
The facility, which will also be expanded by 3,600 square feet, is intended to be multifunctional, providing office, educational, research, and exhibition space to local governmental, educational, and non-profit organizations interested in studying and preserving the Susquehanna River as an important natural resource.
Scheduled to open in late 2013 as a hub for environmental research and education, the $3 million center will house an interpretive exhibit area, 64-seat classroom, offices, laboratories, and kitchen and dining areas.
WCx provided LEED fundamental and enhanced commissioning services on this project, which is LEED-NC registered.
Architect/Engineer: Entech Engineering, Inc.
Stroud Water Research Center
Moorhead Environmental Complex
Avondale, Pennsylvania
14,000 sf
Stroud is one of the premier freshwater research institutes in the world. A new $5 million education and public outreach addition features energy-efficient design elements such as innovative wastewater and rainwater systems, ground-coupled heat pumps and composting toilets.
The two-story building houses education, development, marketing and maintenance functions. It expands and enhances the capabilities of current SWRC facilities by adding office, laboratory and classroom space for growing programs.
WCx provided LEED fundamental commissioning services for the project. Systems commissioned included geothermal heating and cooling, building automation system, daylight harvesting, domestic water heating, gray water system, composting toilets and solar power. Test and balance review and report repeatability verification were also performed.
LEED Platinum Certified
Architect: m2 architecture