Cleveland Clinic Pathology, Laboratory Medicine Institute
New construction: Cleveland Clinic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute; Karpinski Engineering
Project name: Cleveland Clinic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Firm name: Karpinski Engineering
Project type, building type: New construction, research/lab/high-tech
Project duration: 1.2 years
Project completion date: Jan. 20, 2012
Project budget for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection engineering only: $35 million
Engineering challenges
The challenges associated with the project complexity and time schedule were met by utilizing BIM. The contractors were provided with a complete 3-D model of the building including all MEP 
architectural and structural systems. Through biweekly BIM team coordination meetings with the contractors, architects, engineers, and construction managers, conflicts were identified and resolved immediately. The team approach that was deployed during the coordination meetings allowed equipment and systems to be installed with minimal changes in the field. The construction management team stated that without the BIM coordination process, the project would have not been built on time and within budget. A 40% energy savings over ASHRAE 90.1 was critical to obtaining the LEED Gold certification. Energy-saving measures included heat recovery coils, VAV lab hoods, ultrasonic humidification, and LED lighting.
Solutions
To deal with these design constraints, the HVAC design utilized a central water system supplying local water-cooled HVAC units, with air cool units serving the public and food courts. Pump staging and VFDs were used to vary water supply to meet the partial load conditions and provide a more energy-efficient system. In order to deal with the backup power requirements and limited space, the generators were located in the underground areas with exhaust and cooling water systems skillfully routed to the roof level and hidden from view. The supply air is routed underground utilizing a ductwork system powered by a set of in-line fans, and the exhaust air is removed via strategically located air shafts hidden from view and powered by dedicated up-blast fans.
Additional Information
View a presentation from Karpinski Engineering on the project
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