ASHRAE Headquarters Renovation

ASHRAE Headquarters is a living lab, showcasing the sustainable components of building that are currently available.  The building includes interior spaces such as offices, classrooms, and a data center. Exterior features include a green roof and solar array.

The building has three types of systems: a dedicated outside air unit to condition outdoor air, the VRF system to condition the first floor, and a ground source heat pump to condition the second floor. Significant issues were identified during design, relevant to meeting ASHRAE Standard 15 – Safety Code for Mechanical Refrigeration. CxGBS identified solutions to protect the egress paths in the event of uncontrolled refrigerant release.

CxGBS helped to resolve conflicts between Japanese-based control system and U.S. control system read/write issues that negatively impacted VRF performance, control point cross over issues causing heating and cooling conflicts between adjacent zones, and internal control issues affecting performance of VRF. As a result of CxGBS’s findings during the four-year, monitoring-based commissioning process, we were able to provide valuable input to VRF manufacturer’s Japanese research department that traveled to the site for review, discussion, and resolution.

Added value through CxGBS® services:

• 75 percent of building structure retained during renovation
• 50 percent reduction in overall annual water consumption
• 33 percent reduction in building energy usage
• Minimization of the building heat island effects 

TEAM:

Owner:
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

Design Professionals:
Richard Wittschiebe Hand Architects

Construction Professionals:
Gay Construction Company

Commissioning Professionals:
Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc.

Sustainability Consultants:
Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc.