University of Pennsylvania, Laboratory Building HVAC Retrofit

Burns led a high-efficiency overhaul of a university laboratory’s heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, reducing annual energy costs by 40 percent.

The University of Pennsylvania undertook a $42.5-million infrastructure renovation of the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM). The project included a complete electrical and HVAC upgrade, as well as installation of a new sprinkler system.

Burns provided multidisciplinary engineering services for the 92,500-square-foot facility’s overhaul. The project’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing features include:

• Variable air volume (VAV) air-handling units (AHUs)
• Outdoor-air dilution ventilation system with energy recovery
• 500-kw standby generator and emergency power distribution system
• New 1MVA, 13.2kV, 480V-unit substation and a 500kVa secondary unit substation
• Building-wide controls system

Penn took advantage of low interest rates to develop the university’s innovative Century Bond program, issuing $300 million in 100-year bonds to finance energy-efficiency upgrades such as the LRSM renovation.

The LRSM retrofit is forecasted to save the university $200,000 annually.

Burns assists colleges and universities to meet their carbon-neutrality-goals, providing custom solutions for energy and economic analysis; electrical, mechanical and structural assessments and design; and resilient power infrastructure design and oversight.

The LRSM upgrades are scheduled for completion in 2023.