Welcome to Dan's AE Senior Thesis e-Portfolio
Building Statistics
Dan DiCriscio
Mechanical
Dr. Bahnfleth
VIMS Seawater Research Laboratory
Gloucester Point, VA
9/18/06
General Building Data
Building Name: VIMS Seawater Research Laboratory
Location: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA (coastal area)
Building Occupant: Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Occupancy Type: Laboratory
Building Size: 44580 sq. ft.
Number of Stories: 1 story (15 ft.)
Project Team:
Owner: Virginia Institute or Marine Science – Ron – Herzick – Project Manager
www.vims.edu
Architect: Clark Nexsen – Don Hirtz
www.clarknexsen.com
Mechanical: Clark Nexsen – Mark Elder
www.clarknexsen.com
Plumbing: Clark Nexsen – Ted Morgan
www.clarknexsen.com
Fire Protection: Clark Nexsen – Steve Williams
www.clarknexsen.com
Electrical: Clark Nexsen – Fred Asher
www.clarknexsen.com
Civil: Clark Nexsen – Joe Bushey
www.clarknexsen.com
Structural: Clark Nexsen – Sterling Hoy
www.clarknexsen.com
General Contractor: W. M. Jordan
www.wmjordan.com
Mechanical Contractor: Hampton Roads Mechanical
Dates of Construction: August 2005 - February 2007
Actual Cost: $6,494,202
Project Delivery Method: Design – Bid – Build
Architectural Function:
The Seawater Research Laboratory contains a multi-purpose lab that contains holding tanks for aquatic life. Other labs include two dry labs, biosafety labs levels 1, 2, and 3, and toxicology lab, all connected to a seawater system originating at the end of a 600’ pier, which extends out into the York River. A coral reef lab is also part of this facility. An entrance suite includes offices for the building manager and an engineer, an observation area for visitors, conference room, vending and toilets.
The Water Treatment/Storage Building contains equipment for the plumbing and processing seawater for the Seawater Research Laboratory and also storage for miscellaneous items including aquatic tanks.
The Pier Equipment Building contains the water pumps that extract seawater from the York River and discharge it through pipes from the Seawater Research Laboratory Site.
Building Codes: Virginia Unified Statewide Code (VUSBC)
ASHRAE
 May 8, 2007er 20, 2006; IBC
Zoning: The VUSBC use group for all three buildings is B – Business
Building Envelope/Roofing:
The exterior walls are face brick with painted block on the interior and rigid insulation within the cavity. The parapet is capped with precast concrete. Accent panels, overhead, and personnel doors are prefinished galvanized metal. The roof is four-ply, built-up roofing and is placed over rigid insulation and supported by galvanized metal decking.
Structure:
The structure of the VIMS Seawater Research Laboratory is made of steel using w-shapes and hollow steel sections for columns. The columns are supported by shallow spread concrete footings. The structure was designed to support a live load of 300 psf and a wind load of 23.8 psf.
Mechanical Systems:
The ventilation system utilizes two air hadling units and four make-up air units. All of which supply 100% outdoor air to all of the buildings spaces. The cooling source for the building are two 105 ton screw compressor chillers. The heating source for the building are two propane gas fired modular boilers, each supplying 1760 MBtuH. All ductwork is stainless steel or epoxy coated steel to protect against corrosion.
Electrical Systems:
The VIMS Seawater Research Laboratory uses a 2000A main switchboard that distributes power to ten 480Y/277 three phase, four wire panel boards and nine dry type transformers that serve the 208Y120 loads. Some of the building loads are as follows: 43 kVA lighting load, 129 kVA receptacle load, 959 kVA HVAC load, 203 kVA aquatic equipment load, and 89 kVA lab equipment load.
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