Sun Microsystems, BROOMFIELD, CO
Mechanical System Installation: Heating, Cooling, Plumbing
TRAUTMAN & SHREVE VALUE DELIVERED
The fast track schedule required the completion of all mechanical systems for operation including the entire central plant within 9 months to facilitate the occupancy of buildings 1 and 2 in June 1998. The tenant improvement package was designed with Trautman & Shreve, Inc., assistance. The office complex utilized VAV’s, re-heat units and fans-powered terminal units to complete the heating and cooling systems. A complete plumbing system was installed.
MECHANICAL SYSTEM INSTALLATION SCOPE OF WORK
Phase I – The 72-acre campus consists of 4 office buildings and a cafeteria building interconnected by a main street pedestrian way. The 2 and 3 story buildings total approximately 565,000 square feet, and will house 2,000 administrative, Research and Development, and support personnel. This mechanical construction package consists of 26 air handling units, the largest being 40,000 CFM, three 5,000,000 BTU boilers, one 3-cell cooling tower, three 700 ton industrial chillers, and 31 heating and chilled water pumps. The bulk of the mechanical and commercial HVAC equipment is located in a central utility plant where primary and secondary utility loops are installed in a crawl space area to distribute the heating and chilled water to the 4 office buildings and the cafeteria.
Phase II – The addition of a 193,000 SF, 3 story building to the existing 72-acre campus, which consists of 4 office buildings and a cafeteria building. A main street pedestrian walk was expanded to include the new building. This mechanical heating, cooling and ventilation package consists of 6 air handling units, the largest being 60,000-CFM, one 4,000,000-BTU boiler, one 3-cell cooling tower, one 700-ton chiller, and the associated heating and chilled water pumps.
The bulk of the mechanical equipment is located in the existing central utility plant where primary and secondary utility loops are installed in a crawl space area to distribute the heating and chilled water to the office buildings and the cafeteria. This crawl space area was expanded to include the new building. Tenant improvement package utilizes VAV’s, fans-powered terminal units and fan coil units to complete the commercial heating and cooling systems. A complete plumbing system also was installed.
Building 6– As part of the Sun Microsystems Campus in Broomfield, Colorado this is a 175,000 square foot, 3-story office building consisting of a call center, computer labs and command center showcase. The roof of the structure is a combination of gable and hip design. Air handling units are located in the 4th level Penthouse. Large gable openings, triangular in shape, were utilized for outside air intake and building relief air. Close coordination was required between the architect and mechanical engineer for the design of these roof features in order to meet both the architectural and mechanical requirements of the facility. Due to the expansive soils prevalent in this location, special provisions for all utility systems serving the building were made in order to accommodate as much as a 12 inch differential movement as documented by the soils report and actual operational history of previously constructed buildings on this campus. Careful attention was given to piping penetrations at the foundation walls where piping was specifically design with extensive lengths of flexible connections, some swivel joints, and location of such services below the grade beams in order to decouple piping from structure. Drainage and moisture control was imperative in order to minimize the occurrence of soil expansion.
Building 7 (8)– 4-story office building core/shell, tenant improvements, 30,000 square foot basement lab area and central plant expansion.
SUN MICROSYSTEMS FACILITY BACKGROUND
Sun Microsystems started in 1982 and provide a full range of products and services with more than 35,000 employees in 100 countries, helping companies leverage the power of the Internet.
CONSTRUCTION SERVICE OBJECTIVES
Sun Microsystems needed a new base of operations, and Broomfield, Colorado Interlocken Advanced Technology Environment looked like the place. The new campus would consolidate all Colorado employees in one location and provide facilities for new and transferred employees in a region renowned for its cultural and recreational activities, besides the beautiful setting.
EMCOR MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS
Trautman & Shreve, Inc. employed the consulting mechanical engineer under a design/build services contract. This arrangement allowed for the development of an accelerated phased schedule, minimized the need for the RFI process due to the close coordination between the design team and the mechanical construction engineering staff of Trautman & Shreve, Inc., and provided for more effective construction services cost management.