When the City of Tallahassee and Leon County collaborated on a consolidated public safety complex to deal with local emergencies, the stakes were high and the need for robust yet adaptable HVAC was, too. Another collaboration within the design — chilled beams and pump technology — represented a key component of the mechanical system as it stands ready for severe swings in occupancy and weather alike.
When a community-based hospital adds a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) so its most fragile patients can be cared for in-house rather than at a regional center 50 miles away, a family places enormous trust in the hospital’s ability to meet its baby’s health care needs.
Circumstances converged to construct a pair of plants on campus in a short timeframe. However, these projects weren’t identical twins by any means: different needs, locations, and other factors drove some major differences, from cooling towers to standby power.
These days, designs are favoring higher total system capacities, larger generators at higher output voltages integrated into “campus-type” power distribution systems, and security. Review design approaches, lessons learned, and relevant codes.
Consolidation within the healthcare industry and the rise of regional medical centers has led to larger facilities, often spread over a large area in a campus environment.