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AEI Project Update: Vertical Screen - Warminster Campus, Warminster, PA

Client: Vertical Screen, Inc. - Southampton, PA
Developer: American Development Company - Southampton, PA
Architect: Erdy McHenry Architecture, LLC - Philadelphia, PA
Structural Engineer: The Harman Group, King of Prussia, PA
Civil Engineer: Bohler Engineering - Chalfont, PA
LEED Consultant: Re:Vision Architecture - Philadelphia, PA

AEI recently completed the design of the new 49,600 square foot corporate headquarters for Vertical Screen, Inc. Vertical Screen is the parent company of three applicant screening firms: Business Information Group (BIG), Certiphi Screening, and Truescreen. Through Vertical Screen, these three firms offer specialized screening services to key industries.

Vertical Screen's new headquarters will be located in Warminster, PA on the site of the former Johnsville Naval Air Station. The ultimate goal of the project is to attain a LEED Platinum rating for the building. This building would be the first LEED Platinum building in Bucks County and only the second in the Delaware Valley.

HVAC System: Heating and cooling for the building is provided by a closed loop geothermal (ground source) heat pump system which contains sixty-four (64), five hundred (500) foot vertical bore holes to be located beneath the parking lot. The condenser water system features primary/standby variable speed pumping capabilities as well as provisions for continuous operation regardless of the power source or the heat rejection / heat absorption source. The building contains a 22,000 square foot call center which will be served by a hybrid displacement/UFAD ventilation system. Multiple central variable air volume (VAV) air-handling units with geothermal heat pump sections, direct drive fans, sensible and latent heat recovery combined with vertical air column units (mixing boxes) located adjacent to the call center provide all of the cooling needs of the call center. Permiter heating of the call center is provided by hot water baseboard elements. A key element to this system is the central hot water plant is served by modular water-to-water heat pumps and not a fuel-fired boiler. The remaining portions of the building are served by high efficiency horizontal and vertical geothermal heat pumps. Ventilation and exhaust air for the non-call center areas of the building will be provided by energy recovery ventilators with geothermal heat pumps to provide neutral air to all spaces. The data center will be served by precision cooling units thru an underfloor air distribution system. The data center cooling units feature complete redundancy of systems, waterside economizers to eliminate the need for mechanical refrigeration in the winter time and emergency city water back-up in the event of a condenser water system failure. A web-based energy management system brings all of these systems together where the operators can monitor equipment status, adjust setpoints within every portion of the building, peak shave electric load if needed and know the instantaneous power (real-time) used by the HVAC systems, lighting, data center and general plug loads. A central feature to this building is the mechanical room which will be located adjacent to the main lobby. Employees, executives and visitors alike will be able to learn more about how Vertical Screen is efficiently running the building by reducing it's carbon foot print and use of natural resources.

Lighting Systems: All lighting for the building will be provided by LED or compact fluorescent lighting fixtures. The call center and office areas with large amounts of natural lighting will be integrated into a central daylight harvesting system. Occupancy sensor throughout the building will be tied into a central lighting control system which will only keep lights on in offices or spaces occupied. The occupancy sensors will also relay the same information back to the energy management system in order to control which operation mode (occupied or un-occupied) the heat pump within the respective zone. The central lighting control will also give the operators of the building the ability to control all light fixtures within the building.

Power Systems: The power distribution system will include a utility power supply and full emergency back-up power with redundancy via diesel generators and un-interuptuble power supplies. A central feature to the building is the solar photo-voltaic array located on the roof which will be able to generate up to 300 kW of power. The solar array is also integrated into the roof structure therefore no external solar panels will be mounted to the roof. Provisions for additional solar arrays to be located elsewhere on site are also included in the building. A key element to monitoring energy usage is all load center within the building will include branch circuit monitoring where as mentioned above the operators of the building can monitor the instantaneous power consumed by various systems. Finally, Vertical Screen will also be exploring opportunities to sell electric power back to the grid.

Plumbing Systems: The plumbing systems include low-flow water closets, urinals and lavatories. All flush fixtures will be served by a rain-water harvesting system. Recovered rain water will be stored in a 10,000 gallon underground storage tank then filtered and cleaned with UV lights then stored in a 1,000 gallon underground storage tank. Finally, Primary/Standby booster pumps will pressurize the system. The building will be 100% protected by a wet protection system and the data center will include a "green" clean agent system as well as a dry sprinkler system.

The green efforts being put into this building will not only be visible during design but for the life of the building. Per the client's request, the building will also function as a educational center for the employees and clients of Vertical Screen. Every "green technology" in the building will be on showcase and tell the story of Vertical Screen's commitment to the environment, the community, the employees and it's customers.

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Project Spotlight: Kensington CAPA High School, Philadelphia, PA

Client: School District of Philadelphia
Developer: BSI / AP Construction - Bensalem, PA
Architect: SMP/SRK Architects, A Joint Venture - Philadelphia, PA
Structural Engineer: Bevan Lawson, PE - Philadelphia, PA
Civil Engineer / Landscape Architect: Gilmore and Associates - New Britain, PA
Acoustical Consultant: Metropolitan Acoustics - Philadelphia, PA
Lighting Designer: David Nelson & Associates, LLC - Littleton, CO

AEI has recently completed the design of this 90,000 square foot performing arts high school to be located in the heart of the Kensington area at Front and Palmer Streets in Philadelphia, PA. The AEI Design Team led by Travis Alderson, Keith Galle, Drew McFadden and Raj Patel.

The project consists of redeveloping a former commercial and industrial site which once housed a railroad yard and fuel station as a “turnkey construction project” for the New Kensington High School (NKHS) for the Performing Arts.

The intention of the developer and design team is to deliver a LEED Gold Rated building to the School District of Philadelphia which would become the first school building in Philadelphia that utilizes a geothermal water source heat pump system. The building will also become a living laboratory for the students.

Sustainable features of the building will include one of AEI's premier geothermal water source heat pump systems, rain water harvesting for toilet flushing and irrigation, daylight harvesting, energy efficient lighting and occupancy control for lighting and ventilation. Ventilation and exhaust air for the classrooms and other spaces of the building will be provided by multiple 100% Outside Air Geothermal Water Source Heat Pump units with sensible and latent heat recovery. The building will also feature a building energy management system to monitor temperature setpoints, energy consumption and trending information

This building will also utilize a GS-Two Meter electric service to help lower operating costs since the building will be heated in the winter time with electric powered equipment.

A rain-water harvesting system will also be in place to limit the usage of city water and reduce the amount of water released back into the city sewer system. AEI has also designed the system to operate without having to comply with the Philadelphia Water Department's 72-hour tank purging for greywater systems.

The fire protection system will include quick-response sprinkler heads and central fire alarm system.

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