Engineering firm: McKim & Creed
2022 MEP Giants rank: 94
Project: UNC Charlotte University Recreation Center (UREC)
Location: Charlotte, NC, United States
Building type: Educational facility; recreation/wellness
Project type: New construction
Engineering services: Electrical, power; energy, sustainability; HVAC, mechanical; lighting; plumbing, piping
Project timeline: December 2015 to February 2022
MEP/FP engineering budget: $20,000,000
Commissioning services budget: $100,000

McKim & Creed provided mechanical, electrical and plumbing design services for the advance planning for the 148,000 square-foot UNC Charlotte Student Recreation Center (UREC). Source: McKim & Creed

Challenges

UNC Charlotte’s University Recreation Center (UREC) is a 148,000-SF, $66-million state-of-the-art facility merging classroom space with fitness facilities and administrative offices. McKim & Creed was challenged with designing a modern, energy-efficient space to accommodate everything from classrooms, to offices to swimming pools and workout spaces. The primary challenge of this project for MEP services was coordination of all the system infrastructure for the various equipment and specialty pool equipment, while also maximizing energy efficiency of those systems.

McKim & Creed’s team designed the space for Green Globe sustainability certification, including LEDs to provide low-energy, adjustable, multi-zone lighting. Source: McKim & Creed

Solutions

McKim & Creed’s team designed the space for Green Globe sustainability certification, including LEDs to provide low-energy, adjustable, multi-zone lighting; glass walls to allow natural light to stream, reducing the need for artificial lighting levels. Energy from rejected heat generated by de-humidification units heats the pool and reduces natural gas usage. Intelligent building controls heat and cool UREC while optimizing energy efficiency. Water-saving plumbing fixtures cut water usage and energy-efficient water heating units meet the demand for this large building.

UREC at UNC Charlotte is a modern, energy-efficient space that includes everything from classrooms, to offices to swimming pools in addition to workout spaces. Source: McKim & Creed

McKim & Creed’s design included implementing glass walls to allow natural light to stream, reducing the need for artificial lighting levels. Source: McKim & Creed

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