Toledo Public Schools Scott High School
The project was designed under the O.S.F.C. Standards with minimum LEED silver certification. JDRM Engineering provided complete mechanical, electrical, technology, and plumbing system designs.
Mechanical system design: heating, ventilating and air conditioning system consisting of several indoor ventilation units; indoor variable refrigerant flow heat pump units with associated indoor water cooled condensing units; an outdoor cooling tower and hot water heating boilers to keep the water to the indoor condensing units within the proper operating range.
The primary heating and cooling system in the building is a variable flow refrigerant (VFR) system using a HFC refrigerant (R410A) as the medium for conveying heating and cooling between the systems fan coil and heat pump condensing units. Areas of the building requiring cooling add heat to the refrigerant via coils in the indoor unit, while areas requiring heating, withdraw the heat through their indoor units. This reduces the amount of electrical energy that would have to be used in the fans and compressors of the associated condensing units to provide the same heating or cooling. Ventilation units provide outdoor ventilation air quantities as required by the Ohio Building Code. Ventilation units use a heat exchanger to preheat or pre-cool the outside air being supplied, depending on the season by recovering a portion of the energy from the air being exhausted. A heat exchanger in the exhaust air stream with piping between the two coils performs the heat recovery. The unit utilizes a HFC refrigerant (R410A) system to further cool the air entering the building when conditions require. The hot water heating system uses high efficiency (up to 93%) gas-fired boilers. Through a system of pumps and piping, the heating water will be available to warm the loop water when the conditions require warmer water to heat properly.
Plumbing systems included the removal and redesign of piping systems: new natural gas; laboratory compressed air; storm drainage; sanitary drainage and vent; acid waste drainage and vent; domestic cold and hot water supply; and hot return piping. The domestic hot water system was removed and redesigned with new gas fired copper-fin type water heaters, storage tank, and recirculation pumps. The water heater efficiency was upgraded to 85% supplemented by point of use water heaters to reduce piping cost. A constant speed domestic water booster system was added with a hydro-pneumatic tank. The acid neutralizer was removed and replaced with multiple units installed outside the building per OSFC Manual. All plumbing fixtures were removed and replaced with low flow fixtures to meet project LEED requirements. All systems designs and fixture installation are per the OBC – Plumbing Code. The Fire Protection system required replacement of the existing limited sprinkler systems with a full coverage sprinkler system including backflow prevention; fire pump and controllers; wet system risers; wet system standpipe (with fire department hose connections); test connections; fire department connection; wet system sprinkler piping; and sprinklers. A dry sprinkler system was designed for areas subject to freezing. Laboratory plumbing involved 4 General Science Labs, 2 Chemistry Labs, and 2 Biology Labs with new acid waste system and laboratory piped supply systems.
The design of the new electrical systems include a 150kW emergency standby generator; primary electrical services; fire alarm; interior and exterior lighting; lighting control; technology systems; and electrical devices/receptacles layout. Lighting throughout the building was upgraded with energy efficient lamps and electronic ballasts. Occupancy sensors were installed in all rooms for automatic control of the lighting. All lighting in open office areas, private offices, and conference rooms were double switched in conjunction with the occupancy sensors to allow lighting levels to be manually decreased by 50% by the occupants. In particular the lighting in open office areas was replaced with new two lamp fixtures with an efficiency of 88% versus 73% for a three lamp parabolic fixture. The new fixtures draw 30% less power than traditional 3 lamp fixtures commonly used in office buildings while providing similar lighting levels.
The building incorporates Cat5E structured cabling system to the desktop to multi-layer core switches and edge switches in the central Equipment Room. A multi-mode and single mode fiber backbone along with a copper backbone connects additional equipment rooms to the main room. The core switch is connected to a district wide area network (WAN) via fiber. Complete Wireless access for data and voice has been provided utilizing 802.11 n technologies. Each classroom is equipped with classroom sound re-enforcement systems, LCD projectors, and DVD/VCR’s for audio visual presentations. A digital video distribution system with access to central video servers at the owners Network Operations Center is via a VBRICK video system.
Paging/Intercom is throughout the building via a microprocessor based central system tied into the Digital IP enabled PBX phone system and a tornado warning system is incorporated into the system for safety. Video announcements and messages are distributed throughout the complex via an electronic PC based Bulletin Board Messaging system and digital VBRICK system. Monitors are placed in public areas for displaying information to the students and staff. Specialty sound systems are provided in dining, gymnasium, and music rooms. Each system incorporates wired and wireless microphones with portable carts in the gymnasiums.
Security system and access control system throughout the complex control access to and from the building along with intrusion detection. The building is monitored by a coaxial analog camera system on the interior and exterior. All systems report back to the central monitoring center. Other systems in the building include central synchronous clock system, wireless phones, and portable broadcast camera system.