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Arris Engineering Group was recently awarded a professional design services contract to upgrade the electrical and plumbing  systems for three major buildings located at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home Complex near Altoona, Pa.  The three buildings encompass over 600,000 Sq-Ft of both specific care and assisted care nursing and includes the Dietary Building which is responsible for meal preparation for the entire facility.  The fully occupied buildings require extensive replacement of the cast iron sanitary sewer and potable copper water lines, as well as, a complete replacement of their 5KV  unit substations  and all of the secondary service panelboards.  The buildings will remain fully active during this replacement project and Arris is responsible for developing specific phasing plans to allow for a structured conversion between the old and new systems.

Arris will perform a complete load analysis of each building’s electrical system and will perform a fuse and relay coordination study of the 5KV  distribution system down through each secondary service panel throughout the campus buildings.  Arris will also be responsible for testing of the existing water quality and flows from both the site well and supplemental city water systems feeding the buildings.  A study will be developed to address the water quality issues and the design will implement the appropriate water treatment technology to take corrective action either as separate building systems or as a central site treatment plant. 

The project budget includes over 5 million dollars in state funding through the PA Department of  General Services and over 8 million dollars in Federal funding.

Albert Einstein Medical Center is a teaching hospital offering a full range of advanced health services to the Philadelphia community and beyond. Our specialties include: Behavioral health, Geriatric services, Heart care, Kidney disease and transplantation, Liver disease/transplantation, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Women's and Children's services.

The medical center includes a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Einstein Medical Center has more than 600 primary care doctors and specialists on staff, with an additional 1,200 affiliated physicians.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Arris Engineering has provided engineering services to Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia on several smaller scale projects. Arris has designed the HVAC, Plumbing, Medical Gases, Fire Protection, Normal and Emergency Power Systems, Fire Alarm, Security, Nurse Call, Telemetry, and Information Technology systems on the following projects:

• Suite 410 of the Klein Professional Building, Tower 5, OBGYN Clinic-5,000 Square Feet Renovation. This space will house displaced OBGYN clinic from the Women’s Center.
  
  
• Radiation Oncology Department-7,000 Square Feet Renovation. The department consists of waiting area, nurse station, exam rooms, linear accelerator, CT simulator, staff room, offices, and changing areas.
  
  
• Approximately 3,500 gross square feet of renovation to the existing Angiography Suite, which includes a new angiography room, a new exam room, new holding area, a relocated PACS reading room, and related support spaces.
  
  
• Approximately 3,000 gross square feet of renovation to the existing vacant space within the medical records department. This space will house the displaced locker and break room from the Angiography Suite.
  
  

The scope of work of the project is to provide biddable construction documents to extend the new Simplex Fire Alarm system to the remaining parts of the hospital not previously installed in phase I & II of the recent renovation project. The Fire Alarm systems designed will be limited to new smoke detectors, pull stations, audio visual devises, and duct detectors. The existing hospital is approximately 300,000 square feet. Arris engineering will survey the site, perform a code review, and provide construction documents as well as perform bidding and construction administration services.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Construction Documents:

• System one-line diagrams and Riser Diagrams
• Major equipment selections & catalog cuts
• Finalize demolition plans.
• Show all new equipment and devise locations.
• Finalize equipment details & schedules.
• Finalize book specifications.
• Deliver 100% Biddable Construction Documents
• Perform in-house quality control per review.
• Final design review meeting with the owner.

The project involved the design engineering for all mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, electrical and special systems for this 5,000 sq. ft. renovation and 3,5000 addition to this existing plastic surgery facility. The new space consisted of a new pre –op room, operating room, recovery room, waiting room, lockers and rest rooms, utility space, clean and soiled utility.

The Mechanical design included a new roof mounted, constant volume system with thermal reheat. All the air was conditioned , humidified , and filtered. This included a 99.9% filtration systems design in accordance ASHRAE and AIA requirements. A new direct digital energy management system was also designed.

The Plumbing systems include all domestic water, drain waste and vent systems. Specialized plumbing systems included medical gasses and medical vacuum designed in accordance with NFPA 99 requirements.

The Fire protection systems consisted of both wet pipe and dry pipe pre-action systems.

The Electrical systems included lighting, power, fire alarm and security. Emergency power systems and emergency generation was provided.

The Albert Einstein Healthcare Network has commissioned Arris Engineering to perform a facility and infrastructure assessment at the Montgomery Hospital Campus in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Montgomery Hospital Campus currently consists of approximately 500,000 gross square feet of space on 4 acres with a parking garage. The Hospital Campus currently is comprised of the main hospital facility built in 1939 and 1957, Horsey Wing Addition built in 1975, Laundry Building, McShea Office Building built in 1957, Professional Office Building built in 1986, and Parking Garage.

The scope of work for this project is to produce a suitable study that will provide a basic understanding of the current facility, verify major issues, and provide an opinion on what would need to be done to keep the facility in operation for 5 years while a new hospital is being constructed.

The commissioned study includes site survey of the existing site, civil, building structure, architecture, interiors, HVAC, plumbing, medical gases, fire protection, electrical power systems, special systems, and low voltage technologies at the Montgomery campus.

The facility is a new two story, free standing, seventy five (105,000) square foot outpatient clinic. The clinic consists of several functional area; Primary Care Area, EEG Laboratory, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Specialty Care, Urgent Care, Surgical Suites, Recovery, Cardiology, Audiology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Orthopedics, SPD, Pharmacy, Dental Clinic, Psychiatry, Substance Abuse, Physical Therapy, Eye Clinic, OBGYN Clinic, Prosthetics, Warehouse and Administration Support areas.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Arris Engineering has been retained by Heidorn Development Company to provide a schematic level design package. The deliverables include, load calculations, single line floor plans, layout of major equipment rooms, riser diagrams, system narratives, outline specifications, major equipment schedules and catalog cuts, as well as vertical and horizontal race ways for ductwork, piping, and conduits. Arris is also performing detailed life cycle energy analysis, as required by the VA design guidelines.

The systems designed are HVAC, Normal Power, Emergency Power, Lighting, Fire Alarm, Security/Data/Telephone (Conduit System Only), Nurse Call, Sanitary & Vent, Domestic Water, Storm Water, Medical Gases (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Medical Air, Vacuum).

The building HVAC design emphasizes life safety, energy efficiency, occupant comfort, reliability, functionality, and indoor air quality, while meeting the design intent of the project.

The HVAC System consists of a central chilled water plant approach with a full load Ice Storage System, and a back up chiller tied to the emergency generators. The air handlers utilize chilled water for cooling and terminal electric reheat for heat. There are twenty four separate zones provided through out the building each supplied with a dedicated air handling unit. The air handlers are hospital grade units which are double wall construction, and have stainless steel IAQ drain pans. The air handlers contain a supply fan, VFD drive, mixing box, chilled water coil, pre filters and final filters (on some units) and a DDC controller.

Chilled water is produced by one (1) 300 ton air cooled chiller, with a second chiller provided for back up. The ICE Storage system includes of two (3) Ice Storage Tanks (1500 ton-hr capacity), four (4) constant volume chilled water pumps, and a pate and frame heat exchanger (300 tons). The production of ice requires that the chillers operate at 25F. In order to produce 25F water, a brine solution of 25% ethylene glycol is used. The heat exchanger separates the glycol loop and the buildings chilled water loop. The building chilled water is pumped in varying amounts to the chilled water coils by the use of secondary variable speed pumps, fitted with VFD’s.

The air distribution system consists of medium pressure supply ductwork, VAV boxes, electric reheat coils (fitted with DDC & SCR controls), and low pressure branch supply ducts and ceiling diffusers. The return air is ducted back to its respective AHU through ceiling return registers. All supply ductwork is insulated. A return air plenum is not used. Exhaust systems will be provided for all toilet rooms, soiled and clean utility rooms, locker rooms, minor surgery, isolation rooms, vending areas, and any other code required area’s.

The EMS system provided will be an open architecture Web based system. A central operator workstation will be provided with system graphics to include building floor plans and graphic representation of each piece of controlled equipment. A Web user interface service will be provided to allow remote access to the system through the use of standard Internet software. The system will also provide for local and remote alarming when a problem is detected. The EMS system provides for several energy saving sequences such as night set back, morning warm up, demand limiting, and chilled water reset. This system will have the ability modulate the buildings energy mediums such as air flow, chilled water flow, chilled water temperature and electric reheat.

Germantown Community Health Services is part of the Albert Einstein Healthcare
Network. With special focus on women, children and older adults. GCHS offers primary care services on site through there women’s center, pediatrics and geriatrics practice.

In addition there is a Emergency Room that is fully staffed to handle any medical emergency 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other services offered at GCHS include: diagnostic neurology services, gastroenterology, outpatient surgery, outpatient physical occupational and speech therapy, outpatient dialysis, pulmonary testing, radiology.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Arris Engineering performed a comprehensive engineering study on the existing facility Infrastructure including Electrical Power, Emergency Power, Telephone, IT, Fire Alarm, Sprinkler, Sanitary, medical gases, Domestic Hot and Cold Water, Chilled Water and Steam systems, including documentation of existing conditions. The study phase will focus on identifying problems with the existing systems, develop recommendations, alternatives, phasing issues, and assign costs. The second phase of the project will prioritize recommended system upgrades, develop a project scope, and develop Contract Documents to perform the necessary renovation work.

Arris Engineering provided engineering services for a new mixed use facility.

The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is
building is a new four story, 138,000 square foot facility. The facility consists of a resident area, convent, hospitality and welcoming center, PACE and therapy area, kitchen and cafeteria spaces.

The resident area consists of (3) 4-story resident household wings containing 10 resident units per household. Resident support spaces include staff rooms, bathing, restroom, elevators, storage, mechanical/utility, and stairwells.

Convent public spaces include multi-purpose dinning, administration, chapel, beauty, gallery, gift shop, parlors, café and bistro.

The Hospitality and welcoming center consists of a vestibule, receptionist, lobby, offices, and restrooms.

The PACE and Therapy areas consist of speech, occupational, physical therapy, wellness center, primary care services, offices, exam rooms, pharmacy, utility, restrooms and storage.

Building support spaces include laundry, prep kitchen, serving kitchen, and service entrance.

The scope of work for this project was to produce biddable construction documents to replace the existing boiler plant local to the mechanical equipment room. This included replacing the two (2) existing steam boilers (600BHP, 350BHP), Main Steam Header, Main Condestate Return System, Fuel Oil Tanks, Fuel Oil Pumps, Natural Gas Piping, Breeching, Relief Vents, all Local Valving and Trim, Combustion Air Intake, etc.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project involved extensive general construcation work and phasing to place the new unites while keeping the existing system running until such time of a planned change over.

The final design included: Calculations Construction Documents, Phasing Plans, and Cost Estimates for the planned work.

Project # 693-04-103 Plumbing Systems Upgrade, Phase III

Project Description: Arris Engineering performed a comprehensive engineering study on the existing facility domestic water and steam piping infrastructure including documentation of existing conditions. The study phase focused on identifying problems with the existing systems; develop recommendations, and assign costs. The second phase of the project prioritized recommended plumbing system upgrades, develop a project scope, and develop Contract Documents to perform the necessary renovation work.

Project # 693-04-102 Miscellaneous HVAC Upgrades, Phase II

Project Description: Arris Engineering performed a comprehensive engineering study on the existing facility HVAC systems including documentation of existing environmental conditions, code requirements and condition of existing HVAC equipment throughout the facility. The study addressed recommended HVAC upgrades, alternatives, phasing issues, costs, and ultimately result in the development of a strategic 5-year HVAC upgrade plan which will guide the VA in capital expenditures for HVAC improvements for the future.

Project # 693-05-111 Renovate 4 North for SPD

Project Description: Arris Engineering was retained by the VAMC as the lead professional service firm to provide Project Management, Architectural, and engineering services for the renovation of the old operating rooms (5742 GSF) on the fourth floor north, building one to accommodate the space deficient (currently 3182 GSF) Supply Processing and Distribution (SPD) functions. SPD was in a land locked area on the third floor center, building number one. The project alleviated the space deficiencies that existed. The impact on the organization was an enhancement of patient services, with an improved space workflow. Arris hired a sub consultant to perform the Architectural design elements of this project.

Mechanical design included VVT systems for office and waiting areas, and 100% outside air systems for laboratories. Specialized ventilation systems were designed for the tuberculosis treatment rooms and other isolation rooms and laboratories consisting of 99.9% filtration systems design in accordance ASHRAE and VA requirements.

Plumbing systems include all domestic water, drain waste and vent systems. Specialized plumbing systems included medical gasses and medical vacuum designed in accordance with NFPA 99 requirements. In addition, an acid waste system was provided.

Fire protection systems consisted of both wet pipe and dry pipe preaction systems.

Electrical systems included lighting, power, fire alarm and security. Emergency power systems and emergency generation was provided.

Located at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, the Marion-Louise Saltzman Women’s Center is a place where experts care for the emotional and physical needs of women in a compassionate, personal Setting

The scope of the project was to provide HVAC, Plumbing, Fire Protection and Electrical Engineeing Services for 10,000 square feet of renovation to the existing ground floor of the Marion, Louise Saltzman Women’s Center. The department included, five (5) mammography rooms, two (2) ultrasound rooms, one (1) stereotatic room, one (1) dexascan room, changing rooms, diagnostic waiting, registration, etc.

The systems designed were HVAC, Normal Power, Emergency Power, Lighting, Fire Alarm, Security/Data/Telephone (Conduit System Only), Nurse Call, Sanitary & Vent, Domestic Water, Storm Water, Medical Gases (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Medical Air, Vacuum, Sprinklers.

The facility is a new two story, free standing, sixty five thousand (65,000) square foot outpatient clinic. The clinic consists of several functional area; Primary Care Area, EEG Laboratory, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine,  Specialty Care, Urgent Care, Surgical Suites, Recovery, Cardiology, Audiology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Orthopedics, SPD, Pharmacy, Dental Clinic, Psychiatry, Substance Abuse, Physical Therapy, Eye Clinic, OBGYN Clinic, Prosthetics, Warehouse and Administration Support areas.

Arris Engineering has been retained by Heidorn Development Company to provide full 100% biddable construction documents. The deliverables include, load calculations, floor plans, layout of major equipment rooms, riser diagrams, specifications, major equipment schedules and catalog cuts,  as well as vertical and horizontal race ways for ductwork, piping, and conduits. Arris is also performing detailed life cycle energy analysis, as required by the VA design guidelines.

The systems designed are HVAC, Normal Power, Emergency Power, Lighting, Fire Alarm, Security/Data/Telephone (Conduit System Only), Nurse Call, Sanitary & Vent, Domestic Water, Storm Water, Medical Gases (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Medical Air, Vacuum).

The building engineering system design emphasizes life safety, energy efficiency, occupant comfort, reliability, functionality, and indoor air quality, while meeting the design intent of the project.