Projects

Shah Smith & Associates, Inc. provided MEP engineering for Tarleton State University Southwest Metroplex Building. The multipurpose academic building is the first building on a new campus for Tarleton State University located on an 80-acre parcel along the recently completed Chisholm Trail Parkway southwest of Fort Worth. The 3-story, 76,000 gross square foot Southwest Metroplex Building includes general use classrooms, tiered classrooms, computer labs, teaching labs, departmental and faculty offices and support space, meeting rooms, study spaces and wellness/exercise accommodations.

The HVAC system provides comfort cooling to the building via rooftop air handling units manifolded together for redundancy and ease of maintenance. The air handling units utilize air-side economizers for free cooling when outside conditions are favorable.  Energy recovery is provided by a 100% outside air pre-treatment unit with an enthalpy wheel designed to recycle energy from the building’s exhaust/relief air to pre-treat incoming ventilation air.

Building chilled water is generated by energy efficient air-cooled chillers. The chilled water system is configured in a variable flow primary pumping system designed to save on pump energy during part load operation.  Piping provisions were made to connect to a future campus thermal loop.

Condensing boilers with outside air reset controls were provided over conventional boilers to maximize energy savings for the building heating hot water system.

The Plumbing Systems provides domestic water, sanitary waste and vent, make-up water, softened water, internal primary roof drainage system and secondary (emergency) external scuppers, and natural gas. The domestic water was softened, and heated. Low-flow commercial grade plumbing fixtures were installed. The building is fully sprinklered with a class 1 manual standpipe system.

The electrical system includes a new electrical service to the building and a new generator for emergency power. The multifunctional rooms have power and technology throughout the space to accommodate several different arrangements. Lighting consists of 

LED fixtures operating on occupancy sensors to maximize energy efficiency and savings. Some electrical receptacles in non-essential spaces are switched off when unoccupied to help with energy savings as well. The emergency power system provides power for emergency egress lighting, fire protection equipment, and backup power for the tele/data rooms.