MEP Engineering Design for Ascension Health

The expansion includes medical/surgical beds and support spaces. The 2nd floor expansion is fully fitted out with the 3rd and 4th floor expansions shelled for future fit-out. The new 5th, 6th and 7th floors are fully fitted out. The total floor area of new construction is 50,329 square feet; the total floor area of fit-out space is 38,853 square feet. In addition, renovations occurred on the 2nd floor and in the Medical Office Building, where total area of renovation is approximately 14,586 square feet. The total construction cost for the new work and the renovation work is approximately $26.3 million dollars.

Mechanical engineering design included new steam and condensate piping that was connected to existing piping located in the basement level ceiling space, and extended to the new mechanical room. Hot water heating piping was extended from the shell and tube heat exchangers to heating coils in the air terminal units, the air handling unit and fan-powered boxes for perimeter heating. Hot water heating is capable of operating year-round, for use in the air terminal units when required.

New chilled water piping was connected to existing piping located in the pipe shaft west of the elevators, which is served by the existing central utility plant. A new air-cooled chiller with plate and frame heat exchanger enables chilled water delivery to the expansion year-round. The air handling unit is provided with a humidifier utilizing plant steam to humidify the supply air in order to maintain a space relative humidity of 40 percent relative humidity.

A microprocessor based direct digital control (DDC) system was designed to control the air handling unit, chilled water system and heating hot water system. Individual room air terminal units also have DDC controllers networked and fully integrated into the building wide system. Each air terminal unit DDC controller is provided with a room temperature sensor. Automatic unoccupied setback of temperature and airflow will be programmable on an individual terminal unit basis.

Domestic cold water, hot water and hot water recirculation piping will be distributed and connected to plumbing fixtures and existing high pressure water heaters were replaced with new steam-to-water heat exchangers.

A new medical air compressor was provided and medical air piping was extended to new outlets. Medical gas alarm systems were provided in accordance with NFPA 99.

The entire building is protected by an automatic wet pipe sprinkler and standpipe system fed from the existing sprinkler system. Areas of the building not previously sprinklered are now sprinklered as part of this project.

Electrical engineering design included a new 600A distribution panel which feeds the New East Tower Expansion. Mechanical equipment loads (pumps, exhaust fans, etc.) are served from a new lighting/appliance panel, which is fed from the new distribution panel. The existing essential electrical system (Life Safety and Critical Branches) within the East Tower was extended to the new vertical expansion areas to feed all the required Life Safety and Critical power loads.

Lighting systems were designed to provide light levels in accordance with the 2007 Michigan Minimum Design Standards as-well-as the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recommended standards. All light fixtures are specification grade and are LED type lighting fixtures. Multi-function lay-in lighting fixtures above the patient beds and down lighting fixtures are provided in patient rooms.

A new addressable fire alarm system was provided for the tower expansion area and is tied into the existing system. A fire alarm control panel with battery back-up, manual pull stations, duct type smoke detectors, room smoke detectors, audible and visual notification appliances have been provided throughout the tower expansion as required. The new fire alarm system is expandable for the hospital’s future fire alarm system upgrade and will be tied into the existing systems network.