A step-by-step look at the retro-commissioning process that led to the implementation of a hybrid, 3-pipe HVAC system at the Watergate office building.
Recognized internationally for a name and even a suffix that has entered the pop culture lexicon, the luxury complex of modernist buildings on the banks of the Potomac River known as the Watergate Complex is an icon like no other in Washington.
McTavish is the assistant business unit manager for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural group within Dewberry’s Midwest engineering group.
The introduction of new technologies, the advancement of equipment, changing skill requirements, increasing demand for more innovative projects, and shorter time frames mean that things are changing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
When building owners want their building systems to be designed for resiliency, the discussion between the owner and the engineers typically includes redundancy and temporary HVAC systems that can support all building HVAC systems or portions thereof.
For Chicago, the best-case scenario is that electricity use increases by 12% and water use increases by 4% if global warming crosses a 1.5°C threshold. But if a 2.0°C threshold is reached, then the worst-case scenario is a 20% increase in electricity use and a 6% increase in water use.
As new technologies spread across the country, the professionals who integrate these technologies into their communities’ broader planning, safety, and resilience efforts often lack access to the most up-to-date training and information.
“More money must be injected into the program to maintain its capacity so America’s businesses can get the funds they need during this unprecedented crisis,” said Linda Bauer Darr, president and CEO, ACEC.