University of Toronto Infrastructure Upgrades
Client
University of Toronto
Location
Toronto, Ontario
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The University of Toronto’s Department of Chemistry operates on all six floors plus basement level within the Lash Miller Building. There are as many as 80 separate laboratories spread throughout the seven floors that together house some 140 fume hoods. All labs are currently exhausted individually through duct work and out of the building. Black & McDonald (B&M) added Phoenix Controls valves to ensure all stacks went into the Energy Recovery Unit (168 fans for one unit) instead of exhausting directly outside. This was expected to result in drastic energy savings on heating for the building.
These predominantly research facilities are heavily used by more than 400 researchers. Many of these researchers are engaged in pursuing higher degrees and/or contributing to contracted research projects that, like the planned renovation, are required to adhere to tight schedules.
The upgrades on each floor were completed in distinct phases that could be undertaken sequentially. Each phase extended over a period of three weeks where the laboratories, offices and other upgrades undertaken could not be accessed by the researchers using the particular facility. All preparatory work to protect existing equipment in these labs, the technical upgrade and the decommissioning/recommissioning are included in this three- week period.
B&M SCOPE OF WORK
B&M’s mechanical scope of work included:
- Upgrades of all laboratory exhaust system with the addition of Phoenix Controls valves
- Constant volume laboratory exhaust to variable volume system
- Installation of an 180,000 CFM unit recovering energy from all lab exhausts
- Centralizing the laboratory exhaust system from 186 individual fans to one energy recovery unit
- Replacement of seven existing compartmental units
- Installation of new heating hydronic infrastructure piping serving new reheat coils
- Installation of new heat pump system
- Installation of new DDC control system
Electrical upgrades included:
- New main electrical room
- Switching incoming power from existing electrical room to new electrical room
- Installation of new switchgear and transformers to accommodate existing 4,160 V incoming power and future upgrade to 13,800 V incoming power
- Replacement of all electrical panels and feeders in building
- Architectural modifications to suit mechanical and electrical upgrades
- Building upgrade to suit building inspector reports
PROBLEMS SOLVED
The construction took place in a fully occupied building with 24/7 operations. The surrounding campus was always full of activity posing a logistical challenge for deliveries, crane lifts and day-to-day operations. This challenge was mitigated by open and constant communication with the owner project delivery team.
The project was part of the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Infrastructure Funds grant. The grant was set to expire within 12 months time, therefore tight timeline restrictions had to be adhered to for full grant allowance. The key challenge was balancing the needs of the client and the schedule. Given the amount of work that needed to be done, the constraint of the financial schedule and the needs of the owner to still have operating labs in which they had to conduct their research during construction, the project was broken into phases including multiple zones on multiple floors, each with an aggressive 15-day schedule. The work in each zone could not disturb the operations of the surrounding zones (i.e. noise and dust mitigation was paramount). The electrical and HVAC systems serving the entire building were interconnected so that precise shutdowns/bypasses and construction/ commissioning strategies were required. Again, excellent communication was required by all parties to notify staff/students of the work being done and what affect it would have on their operations.
Another challenge was working on an older building where existing infrastructure (e.g. pipes, valves) could be unreliable, especially if not maintained properly.
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