Research Park Central Plants

Shah Smith & Associates, Inc. provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design services for three central plants and the Utility Master Plan at the University of Texas Research Park.

The plant at the Smith Research Building was renovated and expanded to serve the Small Animal Facility, the Physical Plant Building, and the Mod Lab, which were the original facilities at the Research Park. SSA designed the upgrade of the SRB plant controls to include energy optimization and automatic sequencing of the chillers, cooling towers, and pumps. The plant is also designed for future connection to a campus distribution system

When SSA designed the first South Campus Research Building 1, provisions were made for a future connection to a campus distribution system. Design of South Campus Research Building 2 included the connection of the two SCRB central plants with taps for further expansion. The controls included in the second building allow the two plants to operate independently or in parallel.

SSA completed the Utility Master Plan for the Research Park, which developed the concept for a campus wide distribution system. The concept is for several central plants to be built around the campus. The plants have the ability to operate standalone or in parallel with the other plants depending on timing and funding of the underground distribution system.