WVU sought to enhance their energy production with an important mission: to address their growing energy needs from both an efficiency and aesthetic design perspective. Working as a sub-consultant to RMF Engineering, Inc., RPA was part of a team that created a solution that is meeting the needs for the university. Set in downtown Morgantown, the architectural and engineering program was actually comprised of two components: design of a new chiller plant and new 5-story addition to an existing chemistry research building. Since these buildings will abut one another, the challenge was to meld the people space with the equipment building in a seamless and appealing manner. Both had to accommodate pragmatic and functional requirements, while creating a campus-friendly appearance that blended well with the existing adjacent campus buildings. The result is a successful design that addresses a complexity of form and function issues.

Chiller Plant: The building will house the mechanical and electrical equipment required for chilled water generation—it literally provides a loop of chilled water that will air condition facilities all around the campus. The chiller plant edifice is actually a three-level structure that accommodates four 1,400-ton chillers and four cooling towers, with associated pumps, piping and other support equipment. The cooling towers are semi-enclosed on the roof with an architectural treatment of inverted louver “surround” on 3 sides. The building’s brick facade and pre-cast pilasters will replicate adjacent buildings.

Addition to Chemistry Research Building: The 28,000 square foot expansion of an existing 5-story Chemistry Research Annex Building will provide additional learning lab space for the University. In fact, the south wall of the existing annex will become the north wall of the expansion laboratory spaces, with structural openings created to provide student access to the new lab. Here again the veneer brick and pre-cast panel features will match those existing on the façade of the existing Chemistry Research Annex so that the buildings will blend and work well within the vernacular of the existing campus setting.

Completion: With working drawings complete and construction set to begin in 2007, the new East Chiller Plant and addition to the Chemistry Research Annex Building will address the University’s growing needs--increased and energy-efficient cooling capabilities and expanded academic space. Both projects are slated to be completed in 2008.

For the historic Williamsburg campus of the College of William & Mary, it was both energy-efficient cooling and heating goals that led to a central plant renovation and expansion project. Phase I, a boiler plant upgrade, and Phase II, a chiller plant addition, will each take two years successively, but when complete the College will have fully updated heating and cooling capabilities out of one centralized plant.

During Phase I, the goal is to renovate and retrofit the existing central boiler plant and to expand its capacity, but maintain an exterior appearance that is appropriate for the historic campus setting. The design plan calls for a full retrofit including removal of existing boilers and oil storage tanks, creation of enlarged access openings for equipment removal and replacement, window replacement, and creation of both a modernized control room and electric room. The design also includes creation of a “dog house/penthouse” that will house ventilation equipment and louvers at the ridge line of the roof.

A key component of this design project was the intricate review process and strict adherence to historic and related guidelines, with evaluation by Review Boards for both the College and the State of Virginia. In fact, the renovation of the existing boiler plant building triggered new building codes that defined many aspects of the intended construction project. For example, the roof sheathing will have to be replaced with non-combustible metal decking and thereby re-shingled with slate, eliminating the combustible wood under the original slate roof.

The Phase II chiller plant addition will accommodate four chillers, four “piggy back” ice storage units and three cooling towers. Some of the design elements include: architectural wrap-around screening to conceal the support system and piping of the roof-top equipment as well as removable wall louvers for ventilation and chiller access and maintenance; both will match the existing brick color.

Working drawings are now complete for Phase I. Phase II schematic design plans were recently approved by both the in-house campus Historic Review Board in Williamsburg as well as the State of Virginia Design Review Panel in Richmond.

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RPA, Inc. is proud to share an up-date on our current project at the University of South Carolina. With construction starting September 2005, this $17-million chiller plant is being built on the USC campus in Columbia, South Carolina to serve the college campus.

This job is one of several architectural commissions coming to us from the office of RMF Engineering, Incorporated including the American University Natatorium Renovation, University of Rochester Cogeneration Plant, and Headhouse / Greenhouse expansion project for the National Arboretum in Washington, DC.

We are proud of our work in the region beyond state lines…

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18-Luxury Townhomes each with a two-car garage in Baltimore's Federal Hill area near the Ball Park & Football Stadium. Featuring cast stone water table, there brick front dwellings are offered in various widths. All have third floor rear decks and rooftop deck options. One end unit has a two-story carriage house.

Visit http://www.theyardsoffederalhill.com for the project information.

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RPA, Inc. is proud to share an update on our current project at the University of Rochester . Now under construction, this $34-million co-generation plant is being built alongside an 1894 boiler plant that serves the college campus and hospital complex.

A live webcam can be viewed at http://128.151.110.2

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RPA, Inc. is the project architect for several recently completed and several more planned drive thru pharmacies. These 15,000 square foot retail prototypes are delftly being adapted to each unique site throughout the Maryland and Northern Virginia areas.