Projects Archives - Page 6 of 9

White Space Facility Expansion

Precis provided architecture and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and structural engineering design services for the conversion of an existing data center into an extension of the “white space” within an existing building. The converted space follows ISO 8 standards and includes expanded white space, a vision lab, and a tool room, plus a modified hallway between the existing data center and the restrooms.

As a result of the existing data center moving to a new part of the facility, the client wished to reclaim the space and expand its manufacturing capacity through the addition of five bonders to the white space and to increase overall productivity in the adjacent spaces through larger rooms with well-defined architectural programming.

New rooftop units and exhaust fans were designed to support the additional mechanical load, which in turn required structural reinforcement to the roof. Plumbing design involved running connections to the area (e.g., nitrogen, vacuum). Electrical design was required to provide new electrical distribution to accommodate the new white space equipment, rooftop units, and exhaust fans.

CertainTeed – Building 3 Renovations

Precis was tasked with a design-build project to renovate an existing building in Malvern, Pennsylvania, leased by CertainTeed, a division of Saint-Gobain, a manufacturer of global building materials. The building fit-out accommodates 28,000 sf of research and development (R&D) lab space appropriate for contemporary materials science and 12,000 sf of open office space. The design team utilized materials manufactured by Saint-Gobain in order to achieve sustainability goals.

The project required working closely with key Saint-Gobain personnel, the architect, and construction manager personnel. Precis provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering design and construction administration.

Key engineering components included design of new site electrical service, including coordination with PECO to support upgrade and expansion to the building service. Precis provided detailed layout and design of all mechanical systems, including air-handling units, exhaust systems, heating and cooling equipment, and associated appurtenances; design of a new process waste system, lab waste system, and sanitary, domestic hot and cold water systems as required to support the upgrades. Precis also designed the building emergency distribution and uninterruptible power supply system, including design for a new emergency generator; design of primary and secondary power systems and transformers to support fit-out and future building expansion; and design of a complete lighting plan.

Penn State York – Main Classroom Building HVAC System Replacement

Precis was tasked with the design-build project for Penn State York to completely upgrade the HVAC and associated building components for the 30,000-sf, three-story Main Classroom Building. The project was partially funded by the university’s energy savings program.

Mechanical system modifications included replacement of the existing constant volume air-handling units, electric reheat coils, and electric perimeter finned-tube with new variable volume air-handling units, terminal units with hydronic reheat coils, and hydronic perimeter finned-tube using heating hot water from a new condensing boiler, pumps, and distribution piping. The project included replacement of the existing water-cooled chiller and chilled water and condenser water pumps and an upgrade from constant to variable speed. All air devices were replaced with selective re-use of existing ductwork distribution. New direct digital controls (DDC) were provided throughout. All fluorescent lighting was replaced with LED lighting. Replacement of all ceiling grid and tiles, selective wall painting, and selective flooring and storefront replacements were included.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – X-Ray Suite Renovations

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) called on Precis to support a renovation project that entailed the upgrade of two X-Ray suites on its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This initiative aimed to enhance the efficiency of the facility’s use and improve patient care.

A key feature of the renovations was the installation of the state-of-the-art Siemens Ysio digital radiography system. This advanced system is equipped with unique automation capabilities designed to streamline patient examinations, making the entire process more efficient and reducing wait times. The new system also ensures that the X-Ray suites are equipped with the latest technology, providing high-quality imaging and better diagnostic capabilities.

The renovations included updated furnishings, improved lighting, and enhanced ergonomic design to create a more comfortable and efficient environment for both patients and healthcare providers. The overall goal of these upgrades was to create spaces that meet current hospital demand while anticipating future technological advancements and patient care needs.

Princeton University – Andlinger Center Plasma-Therm Apex SLR Installation

The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University is a multi-disciplinary research and education center. The project included the demolition and relocation of existing plasma etching equipment to accommodate the installation of two new Plasma-Therm tools, the procurement and installation of abatement systems to support these new tools, corrective work associated with the abatement tools, and strategies, procurement and installation of new abatement tools for future purchases and associated infrastructure.

Princeton required utility modifications for the relocation and modification of existing process equipment and the installation of new equipment, including multiple process exhaust abatement systems within the cleanroom. Precis modified the existing exhaust systems, designed new process exhaust between the process equipment and abatement equipment, and revised the hazardous gas monitoring and building automation systems (BAS) for equipment integration. Coordination and staging of demolition and new work was required to minimize shutdowns of existing utilities, maintain existing operations of the cleanroom lab space for other users, and maintain dimensional requirements for egress, removal, and installation of new materials and equipment.

Precis designed the project in a 3D Revit model and provided customized piping specifications to accommodate the specialized gasses required for plasma etching as well as the broad scope of material compatibility required for the abatement systems to prevent corrosion.

Symrise – Spray Dryer Expansion

Precis performed mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection design and energy modeling for construction of a new 15,000-sf building for Symrise, a company that develops, produces, and sells fragrance, flavoring, and food ingredients. The facility in Branchburg, New Jersey, houses a new GEA FSD-100 spray dryer system and associated slurry prep unit, regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO), and clean-in-place (CIP) skid.

Materials are manually weighed and delivered into the slurry prep room where the various ingredients are made into an emulsion slurry mixture utilizing two super sacks for ingredients. The slurry is then pumped into jacketed holding tanks before being pumped up to the top level of the spray dryer to a small holding tank and then into the GEA FSD-100. The finished, spray-dried product is conveyed from the outlet on the ground floor into the pack-out room where the finished product is packaged. The boxes are stacked on pallets and delivered to the warehouse for shipping. The emulsion prep system, slurry holding tanks, and spray dryer are cleaned using the CIP system. Exhaust from the spray dryer passes through the GEA-supplied and installed wet scrubber on the top floor. Exhaust flow from the scrubber is further treated through an RTO.

Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP – Office Renovation

Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP, acquired a three-story building to accommodate its expanding law practice. The company engaged Precis to design renovations to the c. 1979 building. The project included complete demolition back to the original building shell and redesign of both the façade and interior to portray the client’s innovative and progressive image. The renovated building accommodates a staff of 200 with offices, a multilevel interior lobby, cafeteria, and fitness center.

Images © Don Pearse Photographers, Inc.

Duke University – Library Services Center Renovation

Duke University’s Library Service Center (LSC) is a high-density archival storage facility located 10 minutes from Duke’s main campus. Opened in 2001 to store and preserve the expanding collections of Duke University Libraries, the LSC currently stores over 6 million items. The LSC experienced issues with two direct-expansion HVAC units that condition the LSC’s 50,000-sf high-bay storage area. The age of the units, along with the increased cost and low supply of R-22 refrigerant drove the need for replacement.

Precis designed the replacement of two large direct expansion (Dx) air-handling units (AHUs), including new condensing units and evaporating coils, and upgrading to utilize a more environmentally friendly refrigerant. In addition, Precis upgraded the system with fully automated controls that tie back to the campus-wide building automation system (BAS). The new system maintains the facility at 50 degrees and 35 percent relative humidity for optimal archival preservation.

Terumo Medical Corporation – Project Gemini

Terumo Medical Corporation is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of medical devices and supplies. Precis developed a master plan for phased renovations to the company’s existing 180,000-sf production facility, which contains a combination of ISO 8 and Controlled-Non-Classified (CNC) spaces. The existing layout had production spaces along perimeter exterior walls, and most of the HVAC used a plenum return, making it difficult to control pressurization, temperature, and humidity.

Precis developed a phased master plan to provide redundant primary air-handling units (AHUs) and flow-control devices to support ventilation, pressurization, dehumidification, preheat, and humidification requirements. In this approach, construction could occur in phases while maintaining production activities. Existing AHUs were utilized to support sensible cooling within each suite. Ducted fan filter units and low wall return grilles were used to provide for additional air turnover.

The first phase of implementation consisted of interior renovations to provide a modern clean room production space and involved providing primary air to the Project Gemini clean room and an adjacent clean room. The total project area of the two clean rooms, utility closet, and adjacent corridors totals approximately 15,300 sf.

The second phase of implementation included adding the third and fourth primary air units, connecting them to three additional production air-handling systems, and replacing and supplementing the existing fan filter units and low wall return grilles to improve space pressurization, temperature, and humidity control.

FARO Technologies – Facility Upgrade + Expansion

Precis provided architecture and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering services for upgrades and an expansion to the existing FARO Technologies R&D and manufacturing facility in Exton, Pennsylvania. The company provides 3D metrology-grade measurement technology, specializing in probing and scanning.

The project encompassed a new 90,000-sf high technology center, consisting of production, calibration, and assembly
labs, along with R&D facilities. The new facility included a 7,500-sf ISO 8/7 laser manufacturing suite complete with testing fields, 25,000 sf of commercial office space, and a 9,000-sf laser service center. The facility also included multiple labs and tech rooms with static dissipative floors that were isolated from the surrounding building to prevent vibration propagation into them. Additional space was occupied by a controlled warehouse. The facility incorporated multiple laser fields, including an 8,700-sf laser calibration and certification field located in the middle of the building, fully isolated from everything around it to eliminate any breakout noise or vibration. All the laser fields required high degrees of temperature uniformity to avoid bending from temperature gradients at the micro level, making it uncertifiable.

Working closely with the client, Precis provided design and construction administration services, which included detailed design, construction documentation, and construction administration. Precis was responsible for the design of all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems for ISO 7 and ISO 8 R&D and manufacturing areas.