Building Name: Eberly Campus Community Center

Location and Site: Penn State Fayette Campus, Uniontown, PA

Building Occupant Name: Pennsylvania State University

Occupancy or function types: Multi-purpose building. Includes cafeteria, gymnasium, conference, office, and auditorium use.

Size: 52,000 square feet

Number of stories above grade: Mostly one story with eight second story (overhead)
mechanical rooms.

Primary Project Team:
            Owner:    Pennsylvania State University    http://www.psu.edu
            General Contractor:    Walter Mucci Construction Co. Inc. 724-667-2875  
            CM:    Penn State Office of the Physical Plant    http://www.opp.psu.edu
            Architect, Interior, Landscape:     Burt Hill    http://www.burthill.com
            MEP, Telecom:     Burt Hill    http://www.burthill.com
            Structural Engineers:    Barber & Hoffman, Inc.    http://www.barberhoffman.com
            Food Service:     Hammer Design Associates, Inc. http://www.hammerdesignassociates.com

Dates of construction: Bid date on March 27, 2003. Building dedicated on Aug. 19, 2004.
            More information pending.

Overall Project Cost: Total building cost: $10.6 million.

Project delivery method: Design-bid-build, lump sum contract for general contractor.

 Architecture

Architecture:
The Eberly Campus Community Center was commissioned and designed to house all of the amenities that were lacking on the small Penn State Fayette commuter campus. Therefore, the building has become a multifunctional facility with versatility and flexibility. The spaces contained in the community center include a 2000 seat arena with stadium seating; a 450 seat auditorium/theater with dressing rooms, orchestra pit, green room, and stage building area; conference rooms, meeting rooms, and office space; a service kitchen and food court with a 250 seat eating area; an auxiliary gymnasium that can be converted into a banquet hall; and finally, a fitness center complete with aerobic and cardio machines, as well as 2 racquetball courts, 4 locker rooms, and 6 tennis courts. All of the spaces can be rented at the owner’s discretion, providing the owner with further sources of revenue.

Viewed from the outside, the exterior aesthetics of the building are sleek and utilitarian... Steel and glass panels blend with the signature Penn State red brick to provide a modern feel while referencing the existing campus vocabulary. The façade keeps a low profile, again matching the existing campus. As a finishing touch, a large fountain was added – a donation from Advanced Acoustic Concepts – as a focal point in the center of the curve generated by the front of the building. The interior of the building incorporates several sweeping curves as well, reflecting the curvature of the front façade.

National Model Codes: Labor and Industry Code

Zoning: A-1 and B-1: Mostly A-1 (Agricultural/Rural), with a portion of B-1 (General
            Business).

Historical Requirements: None

Building Envelope:
Wall, masonry: 12” CMU, 2” rigid insulation, air space, face brick.
Wall, panel: Steel tube supporting translucent panels.
Curtain wall: 1” glass, 2” insulated metal panels.
Windows: 1” glass, clear annodized aluminum window frames.
Roof: Acoustic metal deck w/ batt insulation, vapor retarder, 3” roofing
           insulation, protection board, EPDM single-ply membrane roofing, built-up coal tar type.

Mechanical System

The spaces within the community center are divided into a large number of single zone systems, with several small multizone systems. Cooling loads are served by the air from the air handling units, with the chilled water being supplied from a 225 ton air-cooled screw type water chiller with a rooftop condensing unit. The heating loads are met through radiant devices and radiant panels, and the hot water supply is created by two cast iron natural gas fired boilers providing 2498 MBH of heating each.

Electrical System

The electrical system is supplied by a 500 kVA utility transformer with an attendant backup emergency generator. From the transformer, the power supply is transfered to a 1200 A, 480/277 V 3 phase 4 wired main distribution panel. All panels have been provided with TVSS power quality protection devices. Depending upon the use of the space, the typical lighting fixtures are either parabolic flourescent troffers or metal halide highbay fixtures. Finally, the entire system has been grounded to the building main water line.

Structural System

This building, being only one or two stories, has an unsophisticated structural system. The walls are load bearing masonry (CMU) construction with the occasional pipe or W-shape column installed to take the loads. The masonry walls continue down into CMU spread footings, and the floor is supported as a 2-way slab, varying from 4" to 6" think depending upon the space useage. The roof is supported by W-beams and joists, with a metal deck system transferring the roof loads to the beam and joist system.

Construction

The construction, manned by Mucci Construction, has been completed with a lump sum contract, using a basic design-bid-build process. Bidding commenced on March 27, 2003, and the building reached final completion and dedication by August 19, 2004. There has been a series of problems, however, that has caused continuing work for Mucci Construction, and the building is still in the punchlisting stage. Construction added after the completion date includes reflooring of the main arena, additional concrete walks and curbs, and a few other minor additions.

Special Systems

Special engineering applications exist in the theater, the arena, the dining area, and the kitchen. The theater, arena, and dining area are all served by sound systems. Naturally, the theater sound and lighting system is the most complex with a full complement of stage lighting, speakers, and a dedicated theater control booth. The kitchen area has required its own equipment consultant. Special services include the walk-in refrigerators, hot and cold food displays, fume hoods, the dishwash equipment, a wood fired oven, and other necessary appliances for a small-scale industrial kitchen facility.