St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202

Architecture

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center at Mercy is designed to show Mercy as one of the nation’s top healthcare facilities.  Focusing on outpatient facilities, The Weinberg Center offers leadership in healthcare facilities and services by the nation’s top physicians.  Combining these in a building built with quality material and special attention in design to allow for a relaxing environment perfectly suitable for healing puts The Weinberg Center at the forefront of outpatient services.

Of particular interest in the building design are several key features.  Mercy’s nationally recognized women’s health care center is located at the top floor and features an elegant entrance complete with skylights.  The Weinberg center was designed to coordinate in the central business district where it is located.  At the same time it stands apart with its glass façade corner that signifies its entrance.  Located off the main street is a drive through entrance that allows for patient drop-off and access to the rear parking garage. An elevated walkway allows access from Mercy Medical Center across E. Saratoga Street.

Building Envelope

The Weinberg Center includes several different types of Exterior Wall systems.  Mainly it consists of a brick façade with a strip window system.  A glass façade is used on the main entrance and along both sides adjacent to the entrance which includes the drive through.  An architectural metal panel system is used on the top floor of the Weinberg Center.

Codes, Regulations, and Standards

• 1997 Baltimore City Building Code
• Maryland Building Performance Standards as amended effective 7 April 1997
• 1996 BOCA
• 1996 National Electrical Code
• 1996 International Mechanical Code
• 1996 National Standard Plumbing Code
• CABO Model Energy Code MEC 95 1301.1
• 1996 National Fuel Gas Code
• 1997 Baltimore City Fire Prevention Code
• Fire Suppression NFPA 13 – 1994 Edition and Fire Detection Alarm NFPA 72 – 1993 Edition
• Elevators: ASME A17.1, 1996 Edition with Latest Amendments
• Accessibility: CABO/ANSI 117.1 1992 edition, more stringent of requirements as referenced from BOCA Chapter 11, and ADA.

Structural System
The structural system of The Weinberg Center is a steel frame with composite action 5.25” slab on metal deck.  Typical beam sizes vary from W18x40 to W24x55.   The lateral force resisting system is made up of 3 chevron braced frames that comprise of HSS 8x8x1/4 or larger.  Column sizes vary but are mainly in the W14 class of beams.  Caissons were drilled up to and sometimes exceeding 36 feet in order to bear of bedrock. 

Mechanical System
The mechanical system for The Weinberg Center is made up of air handling units located on each floor.  These air handling units are feed steam or chilled water in order to heat or cool the building.  The steam and chilled water are piped from production plants that supply downtown Baltimore.  Steam is purchased from Trigen, soon to be Johnson Controlls.  Chilled water is produced by ComfortLink by adding lots of ice to big vats of water.  The main air handlers on each floor distributed heating/cooling through a system of Variable Air Volume boxes.

Lighting/Electrical System
The electricity of The Weinberg Center is provided by one 13,000 volt dry transformer.  The lighting system is run off of a 277 volt grid while all motors are supplied from a 480 volt system.  Emergency generators are present to supply backup power in case of a blackout.

Construction
The general contractor for The Weinberg Center was Harkins Builders.  The main delivery method of The Weinberg Center was Design-Bid-Build.  Construction for The Weinberg Center began in October 2002.  The building was completed in June of 2004.

Vertical Transportation
Vertical Transportation is achieved through 4 elevators located at the building core.  There are 2 stair wells that run the full height of the building located at either end of the building core.