Forest Park High School Renovation & Addition
This renovation and addition of the 204,000 sf high school provided the Dorchester neighborhood in Baltimore City with a 21st century education facility focused in STEAM and CTE opportunities. MEP support for Career Technology Education (CTE) spaces included IT Networking Academy, Interactive Media Production, Law & Leadership, Food & Beverage Management, Business Management, Finance & Accounting, Automotive, Technology Lab and ROTC.
Design for the Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and power systems was provided. Gipe Associates designed a state-of-the-art high efficiency geothermal system and control strategies to achieve LEED Certification as well as meet current design standards, building functions, and code requirements. Specialized ventilation/dehumidification systems were provided for the natatorium. An emergency generator was designed and installed to allow the facility to serve as an emergency shelter.
The HVAC system consists of a Geothermal Water Source Heat Pump System in conjunction with a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Heating/Cooling System. Geothermal Water Source Heat Pumps are single packaged reverse cycle heat pumps utilizing a closed recirculating water loop into which units absorb or reject heat. Water to air heat pumps use the geothermal water loop to exchange heat absorbed (cooling) or rejected (heating) from the air stream via the refrigeration system to the water loop. Approximately 260 bore holes at 500 feet deep were required to for the Forest Park High School project. Makeup water usage for the Geothermal System shall be independently metered and monitored through the EMS.
The classrooms utilize vertical type water to air heat pump units located in equipment closets. For larger areas, (Gymnasium, Cafeteria, Auditorium type areas) separate, larger geothermal heat pumps were used. Geothermal water to air heat pumps were used in conjunction with a decoupled dedicated outdoor air system in order to provide dehumidified, conditioned and tempered ventilation air to each space.
Air-Cooled Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) units were designed to serve the Office/Administration Area with air-cooled condensing units to allow individual thermostatic control for each space.
The electrical scope of work included the incoming electric service by a utility pad-mount transformer and coordination with BGE for the installation. 480/277 volts, three phase, four wire service Switchboard, with a surge protection device was provided and included 25% spare capacity for future use. Lightning protection system was designed and bid as an alternate to allow the school district to easily incorporate this into the project if budget allowed. The electrical distribution system provided 480/277 volt, three phase, four wire from the main switchboard to panelboards throughout the building. Panelboards and transformers were installed locally throughout the building to minimize voltage drop on branch circuits. Dedicated panelboards were provided for science lab areas and other specialized instruction areas with shunt trip main breakers for emergency shut-off. The electrical distribution system were configured so that lighting, kitchen, HVAC and plug loads were separately sub-metered.
A packaged engine generator set and automatic transfer switches were provided and sized to serve emergency lighting, fire alarm system, fire pump, MDF/IDF data and phone closets, security, kitchen refrigeration equipment, building management system, freeze protection and other life safety related loads.
Project Type: K-12,
