Project Profile: Georgia Southern University

Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Systems Installation, Statesboro, Georgia

This project involved the construction of an 92,888 square foot, three-story Business Administration Building and a 81,562 square foot, two-story Engineering Technology Building for the State of Georgia, which was facilitated through application of the Partnering Process.  Our company helped establish a construction budget for the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems and worked with the engineers and construction manager throughout the building process to verify construction cost.  When necessary, we made modifications to proposed designs in order to keep the project within budget limitations and at the same time achieve a 12-month completion date.

The electrical installation included approximately ½ mile of 1-15 KV loop feed circuit and a 15KV substation at each building with these substations feeding a 3,000 amp switchboard in each building.  There is a total of approximately 2,500, 120 volt outlets, 130 floor boxes, and 600 feet of under floor duct in the two buildings.  Both buildings have cable tray on every floor throughout the corridors with a path back to each of the 12 Comm/Data Rooms.  The site is lit utilizing both aluminum poles and custom-made fixtures on the exterior of the building and at the pedestrian bridges.  Both buildings received an extensive grounding system with a total of 50 ground rods in a loop with 10 of these being Lynchlite chemical ground rods.  The grounding system extends throughout the cable tray system and then to ground bus at each Comm/Data Room.

The HVAC system consists of four air handling units of approximately 150 tons/90,000 CFM each fed by two, 300 ton chillers delivering a total of 600 tons of cooling and 360,000 CFM.  Duct systems from each of the four air handling units distribute air to 192 VAV (Variable Air Volume) boxes located throughout the building.  Heat is provided by four boilers circulating heated water to the air handlers for pre-heat and to the VAV boxes for re-heat.  A Johnson Controls DDC System provides automated control of the chiller and boiler plant and air handling systems.  The DDC system connects to a central system monitoring terminal (a personal computer with graphics) located in the University Physical Plant.  Over 100 points, including chiller diagnostics, fire alarm system status, status of smoke dampers, air duct pressure, chilled/hot water temperatures, and more are available via graphic screens at the monitoring station.

The plumbing involved the installation of sanitary and domestic water systems, fixtures, and appurtenances for standard, handicap, and specialty requirements; installation of a complete storm drainage system; and the installation of specialty piping for gas, air, and acid waste for laboratory requirements.