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Eastern Florida State College Health Sciences Building

CDE recently helped Eastern Florida State College design a next generation education facility that will focus on Health Sciences.  CDE was tasked to design the entire mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems design for this new two story, 61,000 sq. ft. teaching facility.   The new building design was integrated into available space of the existing Melbourne campus and tapped into the existing campus cooling loop.  The new facility is the focal point of the campus entrance on Wickham Road.   The Health Science building provides offices, classrooms, and patient simulation areas that focus on teaching surgical, respiratory, radiography, diagnostic medical sonography, occupational therapy as well as physical therapy programs for the Nursing and Health Sciences department at the college.

The building is unique in that it incorporates Hospital equipment and services for hands on training programs such as an actual ambulance entrance to working critical care stations. The facility incorporates medical gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, as well as a vacuum system into its infrastructure for teaching purposes.  Alarms connected to a central nursing station can provide failure response training.  Operating room and x-ray tech room with operating x-ray machine were also included.

CDE is proud to say that the construction of this facility was completed in early 2017 and the building currently in use helping train the next wave of heath care professionals.

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NASA Kennedy Space Center Headquarters Building Threshold Inspection Services

In efforts to reorganize and redirect itself for the next wave of space travel NASA developed a new master plan for Kennedy Space Center. This plan includes the design and construction of a new seven-story, 200,000-square foot Headquarters Building and the subsequent retirement and demolition of the existing HQ building. On October 7, 2014 ground was broken and the project was set into motion.

What is CDE’s role in this project? While CDE did not design the new Headquarters Building, nor are we involved in its construction, we are serving as the Threshold Inspection Agent during its construction.

When a building in Florida meets a certain criteria, based on height and occupancy, it is a requirement by the Florida Building Code that a special inspector routinely inspect the structural elements of the building throughout its construction phases.  CDE is proudly supporting NASA in this role and is honored to have a part in construction of this historic new facility.

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Daytona State College Thermal Energy Storage System

In 2012, CDE was tasked to study a thermal storage system (TES) for the Daytona campus of Daytona State College. TES is a system that makes ice of chilled water using a lower electric rate, often during off-peak demand hours for electricity. The ice or chilled water is then used during peak hours to cool buildings. CDE reviewed the options of providing ice storage and chilled water storage system. Based on the energy cost savings review and lifecycle cost analysis, CDE recommended a 2.5-million gallon chilled water storage tank which could have a payback in less than nine years.

Daytona State College secured funding for the $3 million that CDE estimated for this project, and in 2013 started the design and construction effort. CDE was hired to act as the owner’s rep and commissioning agent. Throughout the project’s successful execution, CDE provided valuable constructive comments and analyzed the best plant operating scenarios, doing so along with Florida Power & Light.

In the summer of 2014, CDE successfully commissioned this project, ensuring that the savings predicted would reach fruition. Toward that end, this project annually saves Daytona State College over $200,000 in energy costs, which resulted in FPL providing more than $1.1 million in incentives. On November 20, CDE proudly attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

All in all, it was another successful TES installation. Kudos to the architect, Pond and company, who designed the 80-foot tank’s exterior appearance to merge with Daytona State’s campus exterior building aesthetics.

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NASA’s SSPF Science Annex

The SSPF Science Annex is a new building located adjacent to the Space Shuttle Processing Facility. It serves as a science laboratory which supports manned space missions. The SSPF Science Annex is located at Kennedy Space Center.

CDE’s design team performed, complete design including site civil, architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, process piping, controls, fire detection and protection as well as data system. This building is designed with 100% redundancy in system operation without single point failure. CDE’s construction team completed the construction of this facility and it was commissioned by a third party. The entire building and systems were modeled using BIM.

CDE’s design team also had the difficult task of maintaining precise temperature and humidity control in each of the spaces over a wider range than that of a normal building. The other, bigger challenge was to accommodate all the mechanical systems with redundancy in less than a 500-square-foot space. Because the site was so limiting, CDE had to add a mezzanine to accommodate extensive systems. CDE also had to fit two steam boilers, five humidifiers, three hot water heaters, water treatment, a deionized water generator, DI water storage tank and an exhaust fan system within this 500 ft.² space. In addition, the fire protection riser had to be installed within the same space with code required clearances. The architectural aspects of construction came with several challenges. The building had to be airtight and moisture-proofed. The surfaces were required to be resistant to repeated cleaning cycles.
Another challenge was a design that allowed pressure relationships to be maintained over a wide range of air flow rates to the individual spaces. Additionally, the commissioning of the building was a huge challenge because of several possible system/control failure scenarios. These systems were rigorously tested and validated for each of those scenarios.
This building utilizes every possible utility, such as chilled water, compressed air, DI water, high and low temperature hot water, steam, condensate, and natural gas. This project was completed on time and within budget.

There are several ECMs incorporated for energy savings for this facility compared to a standard facility and this building has been designed for LEED Silver Certification. The energy conservation features included the following: Chilled water system was provided for this 5,700 sq.ft conditioned spaces. In addition, VFD control for air handlers and exhaust fans, Occupancy sensors, Demand-controlled ventilation based on mode of operation, High-efficiency steam boilers and hot water heaters, SCR controls for every heater in the facility for precise temperature control, Supply air temperature reset control, a complete direct digital control system for monitoring, measurement and verification were provided. Since it is a lab building, there were unique requirements for precise temperature and humidity range controls for each of the spaces. Modulation of supply and exhaust with VFDs to maintain positive pressure in the building was provided. The building saves 35% more energy compared to a conventional building design.

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Belle Glades Technical Education Facility and Chiller Plant

This two story 33,982 square foot building is the first LEED Platinum Certified Project constructed at Palm Beach State College. The new Technical Education Center (TEC) was designed to consolidate instructional training and certification for a variety of vocational programs. CDE provided MEP design services, LEED documentation, site mechanical and electrical distribution and commissioning support for the plant. This building houses facilities for vocational classrooms and labs, administrative offices, student support services, and ancillary functions as well as auxiliary facilities for equipment and material storage. The building accommodates programs in Welding, Construction Trades, Law Enforcement, and Cosmetology. The new building was designed for a future addition of approximately 8,700 S.F. to accommodate new programs in Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Mechanics, and an expansion of the Welding program.

CDE designed Plumbing and fire protection systems for this building as well. A grey water system was designed to collect rain water from the building and existing building and condensate from air handling units. All the collected rain water and condensate drains were designed to be pumped to flush water closets and for cooling tower make-up. Wet pipe fire protection system was designed for this building.

CDE designed the entire electrical distribution for the campus, electrical system design for the building including fire alarm system and PV power for renewable energy source. CDE modeled the energy use for the entire campus and M&V proved that the model was very accurate.

CDE also designed the upgrades for the entire Belle Glades campus chiller plant. The chiller plant modifications consisted of replacing two existing chillers with 300 ton rotary screw chillers. The existing chilled water and condenser water pumps were also replaced. The cooling towers were also replaced with new cooling towers.

Based on all of the modifications, the campus energy use significantly reduced. Even after the TEC building addition, the campus energy use was lower than the previous years due to primary variable chilled water flow modifications, high efficiency chiller operation and dual-path AC system design for the new building.

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Renovation of Building 614

CDE was tasked with the complete interior renovation of Building 614 (the NAS Jacksonville gymnasium) with all new wall, floor, and ceiling finishes, new lighting, new HVAC equipment, and refinishing two racquetball court floors and a basketball court floor. The building was originally built in 1945 and is a two-story, 12,000 square foot facility with workout room, locker rooms, saunas, office space, and a massage therapy room. The current HVAC system uses chiller water as the cooling medium but the system is not balanced and cannot meet the demand. Many of the ceiling tiles were sagging because of the high humidity in the facility.

The new HVAC design incorporates a heat recovery variable flow mini-split refrigerant based system with minimal ductwork. Soffits were designed to hide the refrigerant and condensate piping as several of the rooms do not have drop or gypsum ceilings. All of the showers and restrooms have been redesigned to remove and replace all partitions and fixtures. The steam rooms have been damaged due to the use of coarse and abrasive cleaning techniques on the tile and have moisture behind the tile. The new design repairs the damaged walls and replaces all the ceramic tile on the walls, floors and ceiling of the steam rooms.

In addition to the HVAC effort of the project, some of the additions and enhancements to the gym are a new open but covered outside training facility, refinished sauna/stream rooms, new equipment such as flat screen TVs, refinished gym floor with striping and new floor finishes.

Energy conservation was a critical part of this project. Some of the conservation measures incorporated with design includes:

  • Low e- windows throughout the building.
  • Separate VRF system for the first floor (exercise room area) and the second floor (locker rooms). These units are zoned ductless systems that meet the designated areas specific demands.
  • Zoned ductless variable flow refrigerant system (18 fan coil units with two condensers).
  • All exercise room units are ceiling suspended with target cooling sensors.
  • Occupancy sensors for lighting control throughout the facility.
  • OA control based on occupancy profile and to maintain building pressure during all occupied hours.
  • T-8 lights installed throughout the facility to improve lighting and lighting efficiency.
  • New controls allow for variable set points on supply air temperature for the outside air conditioning unit during summer and winter months to maximize energy savings.
  • A well ventilated and tempered laundry facility with its envelope isolated from the rest of the facility.
  • The new condensers have variable speed compressors with (18.1 IEER for first floor unit and 20.8 IEER for the second floor unit).
  • Individual room temperature control for the offices/lobby for improved comfort and energy savings.
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Design of the Mori Hosseini Center at Daytona State College

The 66,000 square foot Mori Hosseini Center was designed by the team of Cape Design Engineering and Florida Architects. The facility is home of the Southeast Museum of Photography, complete with large presentation galleries and exhibit area. Additionally, the facility contains three commercial kitchens, a dining lab, a 500 person banquet facility, hotel rooms, and teaching classrooms for Daytona State College’s Culinary & Hospitality Management programs.

Cape Design Engineering was responsible for the complete structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection design of this new facility. Cape Design Engineering also provided construction administration and support services during the construction phase of the project.

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Restoration and Renovation to the NASA Locomotive Shelter

he NASA Railroad System was put into use in 1963 once the Florida East Coast Railway added a 7.5 mile connection from its mainline across the Indian River Lagoon. Its primary use at that time was for the transport of heavy building materials for the construction of facilities such as the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in support of the newly chartered Apollo Program, a program that would eventually change the face of all space travel and human history.

The use of the rail system didn’t end at transporting building materials. The rail system became an integral part of moving various space flight vehicles and equipment to different launch sites at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA. Once the Apollo program was phased out and the Space Shuttle Program was chartered, the NASA Rail System took on another role; it became the delivery and transport system of the Solid Rocket Boosters used to get the Space Shuttle into orbit. The boosters were assembled by Thiokol across the country in Utah and shipped via rail in sections. After a seven day journey the sections of the boosters would arrive at the Jay Jay rail yard exchange in North Titusville. From there the NASA Locomotive team transported the sections over the Indian River across the Jay Jay Bridge to their assembly point.

Needless to say, parts of the rail system have become aged and worn in their 40 plus years of service. One of those facilities is the Locomotive Shelter located just down the street from the VAB. The Locomotive shelter is just one of many invaluable parts of the NASA Rail System. In 2009, it was determined that the locomotive shelter needed a make over. NASA contracted with CDE to come up with a design to refurbish and restore the aging facility.

CDE’s solution entailed designing and replacing the pre-engineering metal building skin (roof and siding) with aluminum panels to meet current wind loads, replacing all purlins and girts with new corrosion resistant sections, perform corrosion control on the pre-engineering metal building frame, and construct a brand new office building for the locomotive shop staff.  The new facility features office spaces, break rooms, locker rooms, toilets with shower, and a mechanical room.  In addition to that, CDE provided site design that included site surveying, grading, storm water, new utilities (water, fire water, sewer, communion and power) to the new and existing facility.  CDE also designed and constructed a new on-site storage building.

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Brown Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

CDE, in association with Florida Architects, Inc., completed the design of a 65,000 square foot educational facility for Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, FL in 2009. Construction for the Brown Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship building began in 2010 and was completed in time for the 2012 academic year. With a construction cost of $14 million, the Brown Center is a facility with a learning focus on Alternative Energy and Sustainability. It consists of a two-story wing with technical facilities and laboratories along with a three-story administration area with offices and conference rooms.

This facility serves as a central hub for all elements of academic, technical, and entrepreneurial learning associated with green industry, including emerging fields such as Nanotechnology and Photonics. Extensive open air classrooms, technical laboratories, and high-tech multimedia classrooms allow simple transitions between academic learning and hands-on training for students. Green building materials, as well as energy saving solutions such as site orientation, use of thin film photovoltaic roof panels, LED lighting, wind turbines, a solar panel field, and environmentally friendly landscaping has earned LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.