AHA Consulting Engineers Inc.: Primerica

New construction of a data center, office building.

By AHA Consulting Engineers Inc. August 14, 2014

Engineering firm: AHA Consulting Engineers Inc.
2014 MEP Giants rank: 51
Project: Primerica
Address: Duluth, Ga., U.S.
Building type: Data center, Office building
Project type: New construction
Engineering services: Automation/controls, commissioning/retro-commissioning, electrical/power, fire/life safety, HVAC/mechanical, lighting, energy/sustainability, plumbing/piping, and other
Project timeline: 9/16/2011 to 7/17/2013
MEP/FP budget: $365,000

Challenges

The project presented many challenges. The process of juggling concurrent core and shell design with interior design while maintaining budget and schedule was particularly challenging. But multiple coordination meetings (both face-to-face and by web meetings) allowed the engineering team to blend well with the other team members and clients. Design challenges included the blending of a television recording studio, a mission critical data center, and a 200-seat full-service cafeteria into a corporate office environment. The project is the corporate headquarters for the client, and all systems needed to be both dedicated to the use and yet blend together as one cohesive operation.

Solutions

The firm’s deep experience in design of all the project occupancies and applications, coupled with a dedicated team working in step with the architects, designers, and other team consultants, allowed the multiple facets of the project to blend into a common goal for all. Multiple (sometimes daily) face-to-face and web meetings allowed the team to be in sync with all players. It was critical that all stakeholders, including owners, clients and contractors, were involved to speak to scope, schedule, and budget. The design of the TV studio required understanding of acoustics and vibration as well as the need for separating the systems from the office core. Working with specific consultants and a collaborative give-and-take approach by all team members resulted in a state-of-the-art studio. The firm’s experience in data center design for multiple clients allowed it to provide a reliable mission critical data center. The systems had to be designed without interlocking with the base building systems while residing within the same structure.