From my perspective of working in the intersection of two very different professions, medicine and design of the built environment, I’m frequently surprised by the resistance of each group to embrace concepts from the “other side.
Design engineers must be prepared to go above and beyond the codes to provide the highest quality, most comfortable, and controlled spaces to the most vulnerable populations.
Designing a hospital or outpatient medical facility can be challenging with the need to adhere to multiple codes and guidelines, equipment coordination, and the possibility of problems beyond occupant comfort.
Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Massachusetts, is saving energy after teaming up with Shannon Enterprises of W.N.Y. Inc. and Shannon Energy. Shannon installed reusable, custom-engineered thermal insulation throughout the hospital’s mechanical rooms and steam distribution system.
NYC Health + Hospitals, The LiRo Group, and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) have completed the installation of an antimicrobial cooling tower in New York City.
The Lackland Reid Medical Clinic Replacement scored 60 out of a possible 110 points on the USGBC’s Scorecard, resulting in the LEED Gold certification.
When a building is found to be consuming excess energy, the next step is usually an energy audit followed by retro-commissioning of the HVAC system. If available, an infrared scan of the building exterior might follow.
Once upon a time, humans lived outdoors in harmony with vast and diverse populations of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, largely unaware of the presence of these microbes.
One big difference between building systems and the human body is the immediacy of an “alarm” when something goes wrong. If we lose a mitten while skiing, we know immediately that there has been a breach in our insulation.