Consulting-Specifying Engineer - December 2007 - (Page 29) Pharmaco rehab gets fast-tracked he Business and Research Center at Garden City, N.Y., posed many challenges to MEP engineers at Cameron Engineering. An extensive renovation was required to turn this 1960s three-story, six-level pharmaceutical plant into a state-of-the-art multi-tenant, multi-use building for the 21st century. The renovation of the 165,000-sq.-ft building required complete replacement of all MEP and fire protection systems for the redefined spaces. In addition, the aggressive time schedule—the project started July 1, 2006, and finished Jan. 15, 2007—required major coordination and commitment with the building owners, Metropolitan Realty Assocs. Working with the owners, this project included a condensed timeline, difficult field conditions, and revised layouts per tenant needs and leasing requirements—but all due dates were maintained. Joseph R. Amato, PE, partner with Cameroon Engineering & Assocs., said that these due dates would not have been maintained without the engineers’ and clients’ mutual commitment to have staff on site and available to provide immediate evaluations of field equipment. “These evaluations typically resulted in time and construction cost savings while meeting the overall objective creating a state-of-the-art multi-use building and maintaining the integrity of an architecturally significant building,” Amato said. The engineering firm and owners’ vision and commitment were rewarded when Long Island Business News presented the owners with the Top Mixed Use Project award for the innovative development of laboratory, office, and showroom within the building. A major portion of the renovation included the conversion of the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant into a product showcase for one of Long Island’s top 100 businesses. To maintain the industrial effect, engineers installed product accent lighting on suspended lightweight trussing created by ductwork in the showroom. This also required detailed conduit routing plans and unique wiring techniques and methods. T The Business and Research Center at Garden City Garden City, N.Y. MEP Engineer: Cameron Engineering & Assocs. LLP, Woodbury, N.Y. Silver Winner In order to meet Metropolitan Realty’s vision for the renovation, Cameron Engineering installed specialized adapters connecting the HVAC ductwork and designed and constructed ornamental ceiling tiles on site. Linear lot diffusers in the lunch area mimic the segmented building curves and provide effective air distribution. The building’s complicated floor plan limited clear heights and complicated the engineer’s abilities to provide structural support to the waffle slab roof decking where ceilings heights are critical. The resulting design incorporated ductwork design layouts for each air handler unit within each affected zone. “The project reminded Cameron Engineering the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with the architects, owners and contractors,” said Robert E. Wilkinson, PE, LEED AP, Cameron Engineering’s project manager for this renovation. “Daily meetings prevented the costly overruns associated with misunderstanding or misinterpretation of drawings that could not be accommodated for in the schedule or budget. We were also reminded how important it is to maintain an open mind to alternative design scenarios. The use of traditional systems on this project often conflicted with maintaining the distinct nature of the building.” Photography courtesy of Cameron Engineering Turning this 1960s pharmaceutical plant into a multi-tenant, multiuse building required replacement of all MEP and fire protection systems. Automated lighting control panels and occupancy sensors control all light fixtures in the building. These energy savings reduce operational costs and the impact the building has on the operational grid. Consulting-Specifying Engineer • DECEMBER 2007 29
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