Purdue University, Physics Building

West Lafayette, Indiana

Henneman Engineering performed the HVAC, Electrical, and Temperature Controls design for the replacement of two multizone air-handling units serving the south wing of the Physics Building at Purdue University. Our design featured removal of the two existing air-handling units and replacement with a single variable air volume air-handling unit with economizer, steam preheat coil, and chilled water coil connected to campus utilities. We provided a new steam-to-hot-water heat exchanger with circulation pumps for the new VAV boxes to be added as part of the renovation. Henneman also designed a replacement of all existing pneumatic controls serving this area with Siemens DDC to be integrated into Purdue’s control network.

While classroom and study spaces were unoccupied for the duration of construction, the offices and laboratory spaces were occupied and in continued operation. This necessitated the development of a phasing plan so that the occupants’ workflow was minimally interrupted while branch ductwork and VAV boxes were installed to serve the spaces they occupy. Working with the University and the contractors, we were able to generate a phasing plan to both parties’ satisfaction.

In addition to the design and phasing plan, Henneman Engineering provided limited commissioning services for the new air-handling unit, heat exchanger, pumps, and all VAV boxes added under this project. Through limited commissioning, HEI developed a process for testing various operation modes of each piece of equipment and worked with the contractors to demonstrate that each system was operating as designed. We then provided a final commissioning report to our Purdue University Project Manager including a summary of our findings and changes made during commissioning.