Case
in Point, Illinois Institute of Technology
Engineered Systems
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Institute retrofit:an education in multitasking
The 21-story Illinois Institute of Technology Research
Institute building (Chicago) was constructed in 1963 and, naturally,
its hvac systems were designed and installed based on tenant occupancy
and needs at the time. However, with 35 years gone by and a new
tenant moving into at least two floors of the building, new and
updated systems were in order.
Working Through The Holidays
ITT officials began contracting Air Comfort Corporation
(Broadview, IL) to replace one of the building’s air-handling
units and install a new exhaust/return air fan and rooftop condensing
unit. In addition, the scope of work called for two new duct runs
– one supply and one return – to be installed in a
vertical riser shaft from the 20th floor mechanical room to the
12th and 13th floor tenant areas.
“The project was a particular challenge because of the complexity
and timing of the work,” says Patrick Golden, Air Comfort’s
project manager. “We received the order just after Thanksgiving,”
he recalls, adding that the contract included “a substantial
completion clause” with a target date of January 15.
Because of the short turnaround time, some of the major equipment
was pre-ordered, according to Bill Casica, IIT’s plant manager
for facilities operations. It was up to Air Comfort, however,
to place orders for the remaining equipment, and then coordinate
all deliveries and installment in order to meet the deadlines.
“Normally, a project of this scope would be scheduled to
proceed in a smooth and orderly fashion,” says Golden. But
“because of the compressed time schedule, several aspects
of the work were occurring at the same time.”
Down To The Wire
While this work was taking place, subcontractors working
under Air Comfort’s direction were demolishing an old air
handler and associated ductwork to make room for the new equipment;
they also removed portions of brick and block walls to allow for
moving the new air handler into the building and in position on
a newly poured concrete pad. Piping crews were kept busy relocating
existing pumps and temporarily removing a large section of piping
to allow the new equipment to be moved through the congested equipment
room.
The Sunday before Christmas, three weeks after receiving the order,
Air Comfort took delivery of the major pieces of equipment at
the jobsite. A helicopter was used to hoist the equipment and
set it in position. The air handler was hoisted in sections, each
section being lowered onto a temporary wooden platform, and moved
from there into the building.
“The helicopter hoisting operation was started shortly after
dawn and completed by noon, “ says Golden.
In the weeks following, the air handler was assembled in place
on its concrete pad, and piping and sheet metal crews completed
their work. Electricians, control technicians, and insulators
also worked as the target completion date loomed.
Two of the last components to arrive were the pair of frequency
drives which control the speed of the new air handler’s
blower and exhaust/return air fan. The drives were shipped by
air freight one week prior to completion, installed and wired
by the electrical sub-contractor, then test-run for the first
time on January 14.
Thanks to a fine sense of timing and execution, plus quality equipment
and on-site work, there were no snags in the installation. “A
well-planned and coordinated effort by everyone involved helped
us meet the targeted completion date,” adds Golden. |
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