CASE STUDY | TRANSPORTATION
Mechanical Innovation on New AUX Administration Building: A Demand for Efficiency and Reduced Operating Costs
The Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUX) main Central Utility Plant (CPU) was close to capacity based on the latest Master Plan performed for the City of Austin, which detailed the anticipated expansion of the airport. Therefore, based on this information, it was determined the new facility would be equipped with a decoupled chilled water utility plant.
The Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUX) main Central Utility Plant (CPU) was close to capacity based on the latest Master Plan performed for the City of Austin, which detailed the anticipated expansion of the airport. Therefore, based on this information, it was determined the new facility would be equipped with a decoupled chilled water utility plant.
The mechanical system for the five-story Administration Building consists of a variable air volume (VAV) air handling system with hydronic cooling, air-side economizer, supply air temperature reset and demand control ventilation. A variable flow refrigerant (VRF) system was incorporated to serve the Electrical and IT rooms. A dedicated air handling unit is provided on each floor level. Air distribution for the facility is achieved through the use of cooling-only VAV terminal units, and series-type Fan Powered Boxes (FPB) with electric heat. The FPBs are used to serve the building perimeter zones on Levels one through five, including the interior zones of level five, to handle the roof load. The cooling-only VAV terminal units serve the interior zones on the other four levels.
To increase the efficiency of the building operating system, air-side economizers were added to the air handling units to take advantage of the “Free Cooling” available when the outside ambient air and the building’s interior conditions are conducive to using the outside air as a cooling medium instead of utilizing mechanical cooling through the use of chilled water from the on-site air-cooled chiller. To further enhance the efficiency of the building’s HVAC system and reduce operating costs demand control ventilation was employed to minimize the need for outside air when the building is unoccupied or partially occupied. The building and associated parking structure achieved a LEED Gold Certification Level on August 30, 2021.
LOCATION: Austin, Texas
CLIENT: PGAL
SERVICES: MEP and Structural Engineering
The mechanical system for the five-story Administration Building consists of a variable air volume (VAV) air handling system with hydronic cooling, air-side economizer, supply air temperature reset and demand control ventilation. A variable flow refrigerant (VRF) system was incorporated to serve the Electrical and IT rooms. A dedicated air handling unit is provided on each floor level. Air distribution for the facility is achieved through the use of cooling-only VAV terminal units, and series-type Fan Powered Boxes (FPB) with electric heat. The FPBs are used to serve the building perimeter zones on Levels one through five, including the interior zones of level five, to handle the roof load. The cooling-only VAV terminal units serve the interior zones on the other four levels.
To increase the efficiency of the building operating system, air-side economizers were added to the air handling units to take advantage of the “Free Cooling” available when the outside ambient air and the building’s interior conditions are conducive to using the outside air as a cooling medium instead of utilizing mechanical cooling through the use of chilled water from the on-site air-cooled chiller. To further enhance the efficiency of the building’s HVAC system and reduce operating costs demand control ventilation was employed to minimize the need for outside air when the building is unoccupied or partially occupied. The building and associated parking structure achieved a LEED Gold Certification Level on August 30, 2021.
LOCATION: Austin, Texas
CLIENT: PGAL
SERVICES: MEP and Structural Engineering
