Challenge

A chemical manufacturing client needed to provide conditioned air to their organics building since the reactions that take place in the structure add quite a bit of heat load and make the building difficult to work in, especially during the summertime.

Solution

Valdes Architecture & Engineering (Valdes) delivered the specifications for the roof top unit (RTU) to the client for this heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) project. The design included the necessary structural support for the unit, as well as the mechanical and electrical design for the complete installation. Platforms and railings were also designed to provide safe access to the unit.

Impact

The Valdes team was able to successfully respond to the challenges presented throughout this RTU project. Although very little information was available about the reactions taking place in the building, the Valdes team was able to size an HVAC unit to accommodate the heat load. Additionally, supporting the unit on the existing roof was complicated since the building columns were spaced so far apart. Finally, platforms and railings around the entire unit were added to the design after the installation, making the support structure design complex. Each challenge was met with critical thinking resulting in a complete and safe design for our client.

Services

Structural

Mechanical

Electrical