AKF Group project profile: Millersville University Net Zero Lombardo Welcome Center

Engineering firm: AKF Group

2019 MEP Giants rank: 21

2019 Commissioning Giants rank: 18

Project: Millersville University Net Zero Lombardo Welcome Center

Location: Millersville, PA, U.S.

Building type: Educational facility

Project type: New construction

Engineering services: Commissioning, retro-commissioning; electrical, power; energy, sustainability; HVAC, mechanical; plumbing, piping

Project timeline: March 2017 to February 2018

MEP/FP budget: $201,500

Commissioning budget: $20,218

Challenges

Meeting the rigorous needs of designing for net zero energy was difficult, especially given the various user groups that would occupy the finished building. The Lombardo Welcome Center is now the home for Millersville University’s admissions, marketing, sustainability and student housing departments, groups that operate under vastly different schedules. AKF had to find ways to design mechanical systems that would effectively save energy while meeting the users’ specific needs. Additionally, the project was a multiprime contract, so AKF had to work directly with each contractor, closely coordinating and documenting all interactions among various parties.

Millersville University student interacting with a user energy dashboard[/caption]

Solutions

AKF successfully designed MEP/FP systems to enable Millersville’s Lombardo Welcome Center to achieve net zero energy status. Over 500 PV panels on the building’s roof are the heart and soul of the sustainable design. The Lombardo Center is intended to be a showcase of sustainability for the campus and prospective students; energy usage information will be displayed on a public dashboard system. The building is part of the University’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2040.

MEP / FP services were provided for the following building systems:

• Geothermal system with local heat pumps
• DOAS unit for ventilation
• Standard electrical distribution with full circuit metering
• LED lighting
• Building dashboard system
• PV array
• Low flow plumbing
• Rainwater collection for irrigation

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our WTWH Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.