This 210,00 sqft new construction technology building, located in Houston, includes modern laboratory and office space for research, instrument development, technical services and support, and quality assurance.
HTS Texas teamed up with Wylie & Associates to analyze various solutions to meet the owner’s design and specification requirements. The owner wanted a HVAC system that incorporated not only the latest energy, ventilation and thermal comfort standards but also one that provided superior craftsmanship and reliability for this high-tech facility. HTS Texas was selected as the basis of design on this high profile project for their ability to provide custom built-to-order, energy efficient and quality construction products and solutions.
The design included 197,000 cfm of custom Haakon air handling units to serve this state-of-the-art laboratory space. All of the units included two or four fans with separate air tunnels for each fan and had the ability to provide at least half of the fan capacity on emergency power.
To meet the owner’s efficiency requirements, each air handling unit included some form of energy recovery such as a run-around glycol loop to provide pre-cooling in the summer and pre-heating in the winter or cross flow air-to-air heat exchangers. In addition, Armstrong humidifiers and steam generators were included in the units to provide the ideal laboratory environment.
Emergency operation and safety was a critical design aspect for this facility, so the Haakon unit layout also included a back-up chilled water coil connected to two McQuay air cooled scroll chillers (92 Tons) and the indoor Haakon unit was class 1, division 2 explosion proof. The McQuay air cooled scroll chillers were a perfect option due to their reliability and top-tier efficiency ratings.
Another aspect of the project’s design included chemical scrubbers to remove hazardous chemicals from the laboratory exhaust air streams before releasing the air from the building. PlasticAir custom scrubbers were chosen for the design for their proven technology and performance.
The layout for the administration and office space of this facility consisted of six McQuay Skyline (107,000 cfm) and five SEMCO EP energy recovery units (10, 250 cfm). SEMCO was basis of design for their sophisticated on-board controls and VFDs and McQuay, known for their quality unit construction, made for an easy design decision.
Other technologies and products were evaluated for this project, but HTS Texas products, including Haakon, McQuay, Armstrong, SEMCO and PlasticAir, were ultimately chosen for their advanced technology, high energy efficiency ratings, custom built-to-order abilities, sophisticated construction and extreme reliability.
For more information about HTS Texas custom design services, please visit our client services page.