Mechanical and plumbing design for the modernization of two existing El Capitan High School buildings. The modernizations include building 300’s conversion from a dance and band room into classrooms; and complete modernization for the administration building (building 400). Building 300 is approximately 11,800 SF, and building 400 is approximately 6,400 SF, coming to a total of approximately 18,200 SF.
Mechanical systems include new four pipe fan coils to serve building 400 conference and office spaces. New single zone CHW/NG AHUs were added to building 300 to take advantage of the existing CHW. Building exhaust and outside air systems were added as required to serve added restrooms, as well as individual lab equipment exhaust requirements and to maintain building pressurization. Careful consideration was given to the controls of each system working closely with the owner to provide alarm and monitoring as requested.
Plumbing systems include domestic cold and hot water distribution systems, sanitary waste and vent systems, natural gas distribution systems, low flow plumbing fixtures, and high efficiency domestic hot water heaters.
Sustainable features include high efficiency boilers, variable speed pumps, variable air volume design, and high efficiency cooling units. Energy savings were increased with the addition of an economizer cycle that included gear driven dampers to minimize failures of linkage based economizer controls. The campus wide energy management system was expanded to monitor and reduce energy use and allow control from the district central network.
