Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2007 - (Page 41)

that wouldn’t be mandated until 2009. Pointing out that TV resolution has stayed the same for more than 50 years, since the time it was first broadcast until the advent of HD, Nelson said, “Every broadcaster I’ve talked to says that they are going to be at HD for a long, long time.” Two basement production rooms allow staff to produce HD CSPAN. Non-HD TV is such low definition that high-resolution computer images cannot be used for TV broadcasts. “Because we have HD throughout the Capitol, we’re able to interchange between computergenerated and broadcast images. Computer images can be converted to broadcast images and manipulated in production rooms,” Dallinga said. Incidentally, the engineers also designed similar advanced technology systems for the state’s Senate and Supreme Court buildings, in addition to a video conferencing room for the Capitol basement. earthquake, while the Capitol, which is base-isolated, should remain relatively stationary during such a natural catastrophe. Piping for gas, fire sprinkler, domestic water, heating, cooling and sewer enter the Capitol by passing through the moat. Because the The team organized raceway systems and drew them precisely for the contractor. Spare capacity also was designed in and fiber backbones were planned carefully. buildings allow for 2 ft. of movement away from each other during an earthquake, the pipes also must be able to move 2 ft. in any direction without breaking. This is achieved through the use of flexible pipe loops, which form a U-shape that hangs down into the moat, allowing the required movement. Historic preservation While the engineers were dealing with technical and space challenges, the historic integrity of Utah’s Capitol Building also had to be preserved. For example, Rindlisbaker said, “We required the manufacturer to provide historic-looking covers for the direct digital control temperature sensors and CO2 sensors for safety and fire detection.” And for the fire sprinklers, the team worked out ways to locate everything in the basement and attic, and then run laterals through the walls and use sidewall heads, which are concealed as much as code allows by cove molding. With an eye for efficiency, lighting controls and space occupancy sensors were integrated into the HVAC control system to turn on and off lights and control ventilation rates. “Early in the design process,” Rindlisbaker said, “we sat around a table with all involved parties—mechanical, electrical, and controls and commissioning. We discussed what systems were to be used and considered grill openings and location of equipment and how it was to be controlled.” One example of this type of collaborative design work is the customdesigned smoke control panel. “All of the components are in place and have already been worked through,” Rindlisbaker said. “The difference with the fire control panel at the Capitol is that we created the panel in the design by identifying every device and drawing out the control panel. Nothing was left for the contractor to guess or interpret.” True collaboration Overall, the Capitol project was truly collaborative as the many disciplines, architect, owner, contractors, and artisans pulled together to update a monument to the citizens of Utah and bring it back to its original architectural splendor, making it viable to house the state’s leaders for another century. Search for space Yet another challenging issue, as with most retrofit projects, was finding space. With only 330 sq. ft. inside the Capitol designated for mechanical systems, an additional location was needed. Consequently, heat exchangers, pumps, and six air handlers are sited on the new podium that wraps around the exterior of the Capitol and is located primarily below grade. The podium acts as a terrace around the building that visually enhances. In fact, Rindlisbaker said that it also serves another critical purpose: creating a 45-ft. to 60-ft. barrier to potential terrorist activities. Essentially, vehicles can’t get any closer to the building than about 50 ft. Also, a 3-ft.-wide moat separates the podium from the Capitol, allowing the building to move independently from the podium. Because the podium is not base-isolated, it would move with the ground during an Flexible pipe loops, which form a “U” shape that hangs down, allow for required seismic movement. Consulting-Specifying Engineer • OCTOBER, 2007 41

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2007 Contents On the Web In the News M/E Roundtable How To Beat the Energy Codes Professional Practices Codes & Standards A Capital Job on Engineered Buiding Systems Going Green in Data Centers Overcurrent Protection: Fuses or Breakers? Third-Party Liability Management Report New Products Product Spotlight Jobs/Classifieds Specifier's Notebook

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2007

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