The Coliseum has served as the home field for the University of Southern California Trojans since 1923. Additionally, countless historic events have taken place inside these venerable walls during nine decades of celebrated history. It is the only facility in the world to play host to two Olympiads (X and XXIII), two Super Bowls (I and VII) and one World Series (1959).

Older facilities are often in need of face lifts and upgrades. The famous Coliseum is no exception.  In 2009 and 2010 we engineered upgrades and remodel work at two concession stands within the facility. This included new plumbing, cooking facilities and ventilation systems.

Hidden in the green oasis of Grapevine Canyon in far northern Death Valley, the Death Valley Ranch, or Scotty’s Castle as it is more commonly known, is a window into the life and times of the Roaring 20′s and Depression 30′s.

Death Valley National Park

At Fruchtman and Associates we are often involved in renovations and remodels of historically significant projects. Located in one of the harshest climates on earth, Scotty’s Castle presented challenges which few engineers encounter. We are proud to have been a part of the 2009 remodel of the historic “Cook House”.

Those of us who design HVAC systems for a living routinely specify that system air balancing be performed at the completion of a project. How many of us specify that system air balancing be performed prior to the commencement of work?

Many years ago, my firm was retained by a local school district to prepare mechanical and plumbing drawings necessary to reroof a series of existing low-rise school buildings. Our task was to identify HVAC-equipment locations, tonnages and dimensions, as well as the locations of roof vents, exhaust fans, roof jacks, sanitary vents, and other mechanical equipment on the roof. We then were to incorporate this information with any essential instructions on a plan that was going to a roofing contractor and mechanical subcontractor for construction of new HVAC platforms, pads, and curbs and necessary equipment removal and replacement. We carefully prepared our plans, identifying all previously mentioned equipment and ensuring that the roofing contactor accurately could bid the mechanical portions of the project.

During the course of our work, we realized that although our plans allowed for a good reroofing bid, more was necessary. What if the roofing contractor damaged the HVAC equipment during the equipment-removal and replacement process? What if the equipment already was not performing to specifications because of age, lack of maintenance, dirty filters, or malfunctioning equipment? Any of these scenarios could have resulted in finger pointing or worse.

With this in mind, we approached the school district with recommendations to protect the administration, roofing contractor, and design team against inevitable disputes. We recommended that the work be performed in the phased approach outlined in this article.

PHASE 1: PHYSICAL-DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

Prior to equipment removal, the roofing contractor observed all existing HVAC equipment and documented and photographed any dents, cracks, or other visible damage to the exterior cabinetry of the equipment. A detailed report was furnished to the school-district representative prior to the performance of any further work.

PHASE 2: OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT

Once the visual damage was documented, the roofing contractor retained the services of an airbalance contractor. Via a series of tests, the air-balance contractor documented the performance of each piece of equipment.

For example, for each rooftop package unit, the contractors read the supply and return cubic feet per minute, temperatures, static pressures, and compressoramperage draw. These conditions were tabulated and furnished to the school district prior to the performance of any further work.

PHASE 3: CONSTRUCTION PHASE

After the outer and inner conditions of the equipment were established, the construction phase began. During this phase, rooftop equipment was labeled, removed, and stored. New pads, platforms, curbs, and vent-flashing assemblies were installed. New roof flashing and roofing was installed. The rooftop equipment then was reinstalled.

PHASE 4: REASSESSMENT

After being set in place, the equipment was visually inspected. The air-balance contractor again was retained to read and document the performance of the equipment. Final reports, in which pre- and postconstruction results were compared and evaluated, were presented to the school district.

CONCLUSION

Although it increased the cost of the reroofing contract, this phased procedure allowed for a smooth process. The added accountability perhaps encouraged the roofing contractor to handle the equipment more carefully. The end result? A successful project with happy clients, contractors, and design-team members.

The most important thing to note is that engineers not only have to approach every project with sound technical expertise, but also sound “real-world” expertise. We must realize that many, if not most, of the clients we deal with do not perform major mechanical work every day. Some property and building managers only deal with major HVAC projects a few times in their entire careers and, therefore, are not aware of the potential problems. We must educate our clients and share our knowledge of the realities of the construction process. We must think through and account for the potential pitfalls and problems—prior to their arrival— on every project and advise our clients accordingly.

Two story acoustically critical production facility consisting of studio spaces, avid bays, office and support spaces.

Geoffrey Allan Laverty Center for the Performing Arts – Opened Summer 2004

This project includes 25,000 sq ft of theater space, studio space, musical and performing arts classrooms, and support spaces. This project was acoustically critical, meeting the sound criteria requirements of world class performing arts centers. Sound reducing techniques were employed, including sound traps on some ducts, spring isolation of all vibrating equipment, and internally lined ductwork where necessary to reduce noise transmission through the ductwork. The school representative commented that after the HVAC equipment was initially started up, it was so quiet that they needed to go up to the roof to make certain that the equipment was running.

The former Jack Benny Estate – Completed June 2004

This project included a complete remodel and addition to the former Jack Benny mansion. 14 split system heat pumps, some with variable volume sub-zone controls were utilized to condition the residence. To reduce sound and vibration from the equipment, all vibrating equipment was spring isolated. Internally lined ductwork was employed to further reduce noise transmission through the ductwork.

Opened Summer 2004

A successful Vancouver based venture developed this Santa Monica restaurant at a prime location on the busy 3rd Street Promenade. The project includes a 3500 square foot restaurant located at the ground floor of a historic multi-story building. The restaurant has a full kitchen and a large dining area. The dining area includes many crepe griddles where crepes are prepared, to order, in front of the restaurant patrons. To minimize the loss of valuable floor space, HVAC and plumbing equipment was located on the roof of the building, and routed through available shafts and chases to the restaurant space.