Kevin W. Kaufman

Mechanical

Ten rooftop air-handling units serve the Straumann USA facility.  Nine of the units are variable air volume, ranging from 21,000 – 33,000 cfm.  Each of the VAV units is equipped with variable frequency drive supply and return fans.  The tenth unit is 6,400 constant volume unit that serves only the auditorium space of the building.  Each air-handler is equipped with a 0 – 100% outdoor air economizer option.  Building chilled water and steam coils are located in each unit to condition the air before being distributed to the building. 

Variable air volume boxes serve interior spaces, while exterior spaces and conference rooms are served by fan powered boxes with electric reheat.  Hot water fintube units provide heating for skin of the perimeter zones. High density load areas such as the server room, and telecommunication/data closets are served by direct expansion air conditioning units with remote air cooled condensers.

The central heating plant that serves Straumann USA and the rest of the building contains two 11,716MBH gas fired firetube boilers that produce 15 psi steam that directly serves the steam heating coils in the air handling units.  The steam system also serves two shell and tube heat exchangers to produce hot water for space heating.

Three electric centrifugal chillers of 750, 500, and 350 tons provide 45°F chilled water to the each of the rooftop air handling units.  The chillers reject heat to the condenser water system which is cooled by two cooling towers sized at 680, and 750 tons.  A plate heat exchanger is also used to provide waterside free cooling to the chilled water system.

Straumann USA is served by two separate 35kV services.  Two 35kV to 480V utility owned pad-mounted transformers are served by both power services.  The services are switched by the Utility during electrical outages or planned maintenance.  Two main distribution switchgear are served by each of the transformers.  Only one power service, transformer, and switchgear are necessary, however additional provisions were made for redundancy in the building.

Power to all 480V equipment is supplied directly from the main distribution switchgear.  In order to provide 208V/120V services, a 150kVA transformer is located on both the first and mezzanine levels to reduce the 480V power supplied by the main distribution switchgear.

The predominant fixtures of the building are 2 and 3 lamp 2 x 4 recessed parabolic fixtures, and indirect pendant strip fixtures.  These fixtures utilize T5 lamps with energy efficient electronic ballasts.  The decorative lighting was also provided in several spaces which included up lighting down lighting, and accent fixtures.  Each space was designed to receive approximately 40 foot candles of light. 

The foundation of Straumann USA consists of a continuous poured concrete footing around the perimeter of the building.  Individual columns supports are made up of spread footings that vary in size from 3’ x 3’ to 10’ x 10’ and range from 1’ – 2’ in depth.  The first floor is a 6” slab on grade, while the mezzanine level is 5” pour concrete slab over metal decking.  The framing for the building is predominately wide flange columns.  The roof of the building is composed of a single ply mechanically fastened EPDM rubber roof membrane over rigid insulation on a steel deck, and is supported by open web steel joists. 

Straumann USA was a design-bid-build project.  The design was completed at the end May of 2004.  Bids were accepted and reviewed during June 2004.  The projected was awarded to Cutler Associates Inc., and construction started in July of 2004.  The project was finished in June of 2005.

Four different fire protection systems were used in Straumann USA depending on the space classification.  A wet-pipe system is utilized in most of the spaces of Straumann USA including, open office areas, panties, toilet rooms, storage, operatories, labs, mechanical areas, electrical areas, manufacturing and shop areas.  A deluge low flow foam system is utilized in the oil storage areas.  The server areas are served by a combination of preaction, and FM-200 sprinkler systems both above and below the raised flooring.