Projects

Shah Smith & Associates, Inc. provided the MEP design for the building Student Recreation Center Expansion and Natatorium renovation.

The existing 300,000 sq. ft. Student Recreation Center “The Rec” was expanded by 70,000 square feet to include the following:

• Weight room expansion.
• Additional two court gymnasium.
• Banquet Facility,
• Indoor lap pool.

In addition to the building expansion the existing natatorium HVAC system and pool filtration and chemical treatment equipment were replaced.  The systems were 20 years old and were past their life expectancy.  Constant maintenance was required.

The expansion space was served by variable volume VAV HVAC units.  The new lap pool was served by a DX dehumidification pool HVAC system.  A detailed study was performed to determine the existing thermal utility connection to the building was adequate for the expansion.

In addition, a detailed study was performed on the electrical system to determine if the existing building electrical service was sufficient to serve the expansion.  While performing this study, it was determined that the power factor for the facility was low and power factor correction capacitors were added to raise the power factor for the entire building.

The existing natatorium and instructional pools were served by three DX dehumidification units.  These units were replaced with new units sized for the load and the additional air required due to mechanical code changes that occurred after the building was originally constructed.  This resulted in larger units and a reconfiguration of the mechanical room space to house the new units.  The new instructional pool dehumidification unit was installed in the crawl space in the same location as the original unit.

SSA designed the interconnecting piping between the new filtration equipment specified by the pool consultant.  Variable speed drives were installed on all pump motors to reduce the water hammer effect on the large pipes when starting and stopping the pumps.