MEP Engineering Awards & Recognition

University of Michigan (2020)

Despite the large amount of high-tech exercise equipment including one of the only indoor rowing tanks at a university, the University wanted to create an energy-efficient complex that was in line with the University's sustainability initiatives. Therefore the new 280,000 sf sports complex for regional and national competitions met and achieved LEED Silver designation.

Bedrock Real Estate (2014)

Bedrock Real Estate (now Bedrock Detroit) purchased the aging 25-story historic Art Deco-era property, with a goal of attracting high-tech corporations to the ever-growing epicenter of Detroit’s newly revitalized business district which swells in all directions from Detroit storied Campus Martius. With innovation in mind, Bedrock approached their design team with the challenge of creating a unique and vibrant look for the First National Building’s Lobby, while still maintaining and enhancing its existing historic attributes.

Bedrock Real Estate (2014)

The goal was to provide a comfortable and inviting 24/7 valet parking facility where visitors feel safe and comfortable, while meeting technical requirements: proper lighting for cameras, low maintenance, budget, and low energy use. A balanced approach of specifically targeted higher and lower lighting levels were used to achieve these goals.

Greektown Casino (2013)

Transformation of the traditional bar into a contemporary focal point required a central lighting feature that is 3-dimensionally dramatic, eye-catching, and memorably dynamic. Automated controls for dimming and color-changing support the daily event-times for waking up, dining, gambling, or clubbing. RGB theatrical floods are manually controlled for the band’s needs.

Eastern Michigan University (2013)

Mark Jefferson Science Complex houses teaching and research laboratories, classrooms and lecture halls, and faculty and research office and gathering spaces and features a mechanical system that includes a dedicated outdoor air/energy recovery system.

Onsted Community Schools (2013)

Due to the proximity of each school, the design team incorporated the use of a dedicated geothermal heat pump system. The project also features DDC controls, smart lighting technology and variable speed drives for the pumps.

Eastern Michigan University (2013)

Mark Jefferson Science Complex houses teaching and research laboratories, classrooms and lecture halls, and faculty and research office and gathering spaces and features a mechanical system that includes a dedicated outdoor air/energy recovery system.

Michigan State University (2013)

The unique architecture required that all mechanical and electrical systems be carefully integrated within the complex angles of the walls and ceilings, while still meeting the strict environmental needs of the facility.  The building environment was designed to achieve museum “Class AA” ASHRAE Standards.

Washtenaw Community College (2012)

The OEB houses classrooms, offices, student lounge space and laboratories for technical training. The building features a state-of-the-art ground source geo-exchange heating and cooling system. 

Alpena Regional Medical Central Chiller Plant Improvements (2011)

A 300-ton centrifugal chiller was selected providing a total plant capacity of 730 tons and

some level of redundancy on the critical loads. The new energy efficient 300 ton variable frequency drive chiller carry’s a majority of the building loads throughout the summer. The second chiller provides adequate cooling on the hot and humid days and the older less efficient third chiller is idle providing the needed redundancy.

Ann Arbor Public Schools (2011)

Skyline High School features a geothermal heat pump system and a wind turbine that produces small amounts of current used for teaching experiments in the magnet classrooms.

St. Clair County Community College (2011)

The North Building HVAC replacement included the incorporation of a ground source geoexchange water to heat pump system, variable air flow energy recovery air handling units, carbon dioxide sensors in every space (demand ventilation), variable flow hydronic pumping systems, and the addition of state-of-the-art direct digital controls (DDC).

Saginaw Valley State University (2011)

PBA provided design services for an aquathermal pond heating and cooling heat pump system for the new CHHS building, where one end of the heat pump system provides chilled water cooling, and the other end provides hot water heating.

Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital (2010)

The rotunda lobby serves as a connecting link between the recently completed North Patient Tower and the East Patient Tower of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Located at the end of the tower's patient corridors, one can sit and reflect while watching the kinetic lighting change the atmosphere of the space. Construction costs met the hospital's budget and design is below ASHRAE 90.1, 1999 maximum energy allowance for the lobby at 1.6 watts per square foot.

Oakwood Healthcare (2009)

Southshore is a replacement medical center providing for the needs of the growing community. The state-of-the-art facility enhances staff performance and satisfaction while providing a calm, hospitable environment for patients and their families. The Project exceeded minimum ASHRAE 90.1, 1999 Energy Requirements by 9%. The design met the owner's budget, the minimum lamp-types and luminaires were selected for ease of re-lamping and to reduce maintenance costs.

Luxor Hotel and Casino (2009)

Luxor Casino Theater Lobby became visually striking, mystifying, transition space leading patrons towards the most anticipated show in Las Vegas, "Believe,” by Criss Angel/Cirque Du Soleil. Design goals started simple - de­theme Egyptian/pyramid features, avoid clues of show content, create contrast, and minimize cosmetic improvements, setting low budget. With hype anticipating the show, complexity of design goals grew. budget did not. Money was allocated for new highlights only, requiring re-use of many existing recessed downlights as ambient lighting. Added dimming provided energy-savings.

Whitmore Lake Public Schools (2009)

The LEED Silver certified high school features a unique geothermal heating/cooling system, a dedicated outside air system and measured ventilation rates. 

Whitmore Lake Public Schools (2009)

The LEED Silver certified high school features a unique geothermal heating/cooling system, a dedicated outside air system and measured ventilation rates. 

Saginaw Valley State University (2009)

Meeting the Foundry area ventilation and power requirements, while still maintaining the LEED® requirements of the building, proved challenging.  The entire system for Pioneer Hall was custom designed and manufactured to meet both the high heating requirements of the Foundry and the reduced energy requirements of LEED®.

Michigan State University (2008)

This project involved the conversion of an existing 8,300 ton, 29,200 KW capacity regional chilled water plant from a primary pumping arrangement to a primary-secondary arrangement.

Bloomfield Hills School District (2008)

The mechanical system for Wing Lake featured closed loop water source heat pumps serving building areas by use and occupancy. In addition, the facility utilized a building management system (BMS) as the hub for facility controls and automation. All facility systems were integrated through BMS:  operational and emergency electrical, plumbing, HVAC and lighting. 

McCann Erickson (2006)

Every advertising agency strives to establish its unique character. The main challenges included budget changes, compliance with energy code ASHRAE 90.1, IESNA RP-1 for office environments, and physical limitations consisting of two existing structures combined into a single building. Over the height of three stories, two joined buildings included different construction materials, floor-to-floor heights, ceiling heights, ceiling types and exposed construction types. Linear fluorescent indirect system was considered but not a desired component to already visible beams, trusses, air ducts and piping in exposed, open office areas. Instead, round, spun metal, indirect lighting system with long tube compact fluorescent lamps became a preferred choice.

Allegan Public Schools (2005)

The design team’s challenge was to provide for year-round precise temperature and humidity control while maintaining adequate ventilation in each space. The solution involved the use of a mechanical system that relies on an underfloor plenum and that distributes air through floor outlets, permitting the use of smaller fans.

Auto-Owners Insurance Company (2005)

The HVAC renovation of this building re-utilized the existing duct distribution system with relatively minor modifications to produce drastic improvements in the ventilation of the spaces while conserving energy and causing relatively minor disruption to the building occupants.

Compuware Corporation (2005)

Compuware World Headquarters was originally designed and constructed as a $400 million, 16-story, 1,030,000 square foot building that included office space, a data center, a 16-story atrium with a 14-story waterfall, 60,000 sf of retail space, a fitness center, day care, classrooms, kitchen and parking deck. The design team’s challenge was to provide a mechanical system that accommodated not only the office spaces and these many amenities in this multifunction building, but one that was also flexible.

Compuware Corporation (2005)

Compuware World Headquarters was originally designed and constructed as a $400 million, 16-story, 1,030,000 square foot building that included office space, a data center, a 16-story atrium with a 14-story waterfall, 60,000 sf of retail space, a fitness center, day care, classrooms, kitchen and parking deck. The design team’s challenge was to provide a mechanical system that accommodated not only the office spaces and these many amenities in this multifunction building, but one that was also flexible.

City of Dearborn (2003)

The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan, is a multi-use facility with amenities for the civic center’s recreation and performing arts components. Reduced energy consumption based on efficient chiller selection and operational modes, a reduction in ventilation load during non-occupied or low occupancy times, implementation of energy recovery equipment, installation of occupancy sensors, and many other system details contributed to significant energy savings.

Saginaw Valley State University (2003)

The IF#3 features a cross-flow air-to-air heat exchanger which serves the laboratory areas.  Since the laboratory areas were to be 100% outdoor air at all times, there was significant energy savings to be found by routing the exhaust air across the plate heat exchanger to pre-heat or pre-cool the outdoor air before applying the load on the air handling unit’s cooling and heating coils. 

In 2002, at 400,000 square feet, Henry Ford Museum was the nation's largest indoor history museum with over 1.6 million visitors annually. The existing building was heated but was not air conditioned or ventilated, and had no humidity control. By providing custom rooftop air handling equipment in lieu of constructing mechanical penthouses and providing indoor air handling equipment, and by utilizing a fabric duct system in lieu of a conventional sheetmetal duct system, first cost on this project was reduced by approximately $900,000, thereby meeting the Owners budget, while providing good quality equipment with a reasonable life span.

Rochester Community Schools (2002)

Stoney Creek High School features a unique integration of proven mechanical systems applied to provide flexibility in operation, ease of use and optimum occupant comfort. 

Clarkston Community Schools (2001)

Independence Elementary School, newly constructed in 2000, houses K-5 students.

The Grand Hotel (2000)

This project focused on creating a retail space that was distinctive, yet consistent with the arts and crafts style interior design of the hotel. Grey leather walls and owner-requested incandescent lighting required creative light selections to brighten the space and “make things sparkle.” A combination of pendant lamps and additional recessed lights were used to accentuate the ceiling and match the color temperature of the display cases. Fluorescent strip fixtures with a 3000° K temperature were installed above the cabinets to maintain a warm, incandescent look and to accentuate the grey leather wall covering.

Northern Michigan University (1998)

This project included the replacement of a high pressure steam power plant boiler controls system, the addition of boiler economizers, replacement of the deaerator, replacement of condensate and boiler feed pumps, installation of a condensate polishing system, replacement of two 30,000 gallon below ground fuel oil storage tanks, new ventilation for the power plant, and air conditioning of the control room. 

The University of Michigan (1997)

MSRB III accommodates approximately 400 people and features laboratories, animal housing, office/conference space and support facilities. It was critical that the engineering systems provide a safe, comfortable, energy efficient environment that would enhance the quality and benefits of the research. 

Detroit Medical Center (1997)

The Karmanos Cancer Institute Bone Marrow Transplant Unit was dedicated to the treatment of terminally ill cancer and bone marrow transplant patients, with patients averaging a 30-day stay.  The design objective was to create a visually stimulating space for patients while meeting stringent healthcare lighting requirements.  A rest area featuring fish tanks was designed using MR-16 50W lamps in black alzak downlights.  A side wall detail allows a T-8 lamp fluorescent-lensed light box to be accessed from the back side.

The University of Michigan (1997)

MSRB III accommodates approximately 400 people and features laboratories, animal housing, office/conference space and support facilities. It was critical that the engineering systems provide a safe, comfortable, energy efficient environment that would enhance the quality and benefits of this research.