Williams College, Fort Bradshaw Graduate House

Williams College, Fort Bradshaw

Quantum Engineering Co. designed the heating, plumbing, and electrical system upgrades for this 18th century home of President James Madison. The house which was expanded at the turn of the 20th century has undergone a transformation back to its Madison era layout. The house contains an extensive collection of original furniture, papers, and textiles, in addition to the largest artifact, the house. All these artifacts require suitable environmental conditioning.

The project included a geothermal well-field system sized at approximately 20 tons of cooling. A large underground vault (approximately 25’ wide x 55’ long) contains three air-handling units, the electrical distribution equipment, water service, well system pumps, hot water & chilled water pumps, and water-to-water heat pumps. The electrical systems included relocating the high voltage electric service, installation of a new 800 ampere electric distribution system at 120/208V, installation of a back-up generator and life safety/critical system distribution.

This project is included with relevant projects owing to its similar size and complexity as the Vermont State House project

President Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

The initial project involved the evaluation and design of the mechanical and electrical systems for this early 19th century summer home of President Thomas Jefferson.  This masonry home has been restored over the past decade and is presently at the stage of requiring careful evaluation of the mechanical and electrical systems.  The Trustees selected a geothermal energy source with radiant hydronic heating and a partial earth cooling system.  This project had established the master plan use of the Mansion House.

Location:  Lynchburg, VA

Photo: Courtesy of MCWB Architects

James Madison’s Montpelier

We have designed the heating, plumbing, and electrical system upgrades for this 18th Century home of U.S. President James Madison. The house, which was expanded at the turn of the 20th Century, has undergone a five-year transformation back to its Madison era layout.  The house contains an extensive collection of original furniture, papers, and textiles, in addition to the largest artifact, the House.  All of these artifacts require adequate environmental conditioning, fire protection as part of a long-term conservation strategy and water plan use of the Mansion House. The mechanical and electrical systems are housed in a 1000 sq. ft. utility vault 18’ below the rear lawn. The QE design included a 12- well, geothermal system which provides efficient heating and cooling for the Mansion.  The Grand Opening was Constitution Day, September 17, 2008.

Location:  Orange, VA

University of Virginia, Pavilion X

The historic campus of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville contains “The Lawn” and series of student rooms, pavilions, and hotels that are part of the original design by Thomas Jefferson.  All ten (10) Pavilions have been targeted for upgrades including the mechanical and electrical systems, as well as the installation of fire sprinkler systems. Quantum Engineering Co., P.C. was commissioned to design the building systems for the upgrade for Pavilion X.  The building systems met and achieved LEED certification.  We provided the fundamental commissioning services for the project.

Location:  Charlottesville, VA

SUNY Cobleskill – Frisbie Hall

The original Quadrangle of the Cobleskill Campus constructed on or about 1915 included a classroom building on the northside called Frisbie Hall.  This concrete and brick structure has been modified over the years to adapt to the changing needs of educational teaching methods. Most of these changes have been done with little respect to the historic character of the building.  This project will provide a complete rehabilitation of the building and system but doing so in a form that emphasizes its original architectural features. The building achieved LEED Silver rating.

Location:  Cobleskill, NY

Empire State College

2 Union Avenue – Empire State College was rapidly expanding and chose to construct a new sustainably focused building.  This 40,000 sq. ft administration & classroom facility replaces the existing structure that no longer met the needs of the campus.  The HVAC system includes a central chiller plant serving central station air handling units, VAV box distribution, & perimeter fin tube. The electric service includes an 800A, 480v service and distribution system. The building archived LEED Certification with points for energy efficiency, individual control, ozone depletion, carbon dioxide monitoring, & ventilation effectiveness.

Distance Learning Center – The design for this new 45,000 sq. ft. administration building was completed in 2010.  The environmental controls for the building are provided via a geothermal water source heat pump system serving high efficiency horizontal & vertical heat pumps through the building.  Ventilation air is provided with an energy recovery unit controlled with a variable speed drive & a variable air volume distribution system control by distributed carbon dioxide sensors.  Lighting is controlled with occupancy sensors throughout all spaces including offices, collaborative areas and assembly spaces.  The building achieved LEED Silver Certification with points for energy efficiency, enhanced refrigerant management, thermal environment, & water savings.

Location:  Saratoga Springs, NY

New York State Police, Troop G Headquarters

The 120,000-sq-ft New York State Troop G Complex is located on 43 acres  in Latham, NY.  The  complex includes a 2-story, 87,000 ft2 Headquarters Building which accommodates administrative offices as well as the mission critical communications security unit (COMSEC) dispatch function, which serves as a 24/7/365 operations center.  This building design provided a LEED Silver certification.

This complex also includes the Quartermaster / Vehicle Maintenance Facility.   The Quartermaster / Vehicle Maintenance Facility is a one-story 33,000 sq.ft. building that provides space for the Troop G Quartermaster.  It consists of the building & grounds office, office storage, senior diver functions, BCI surveillance vehicle storage, firearms office & armory, vehicle maintenance & repair functions, plus new vehicle fit-up areas, battery storage, inventory storage, tire storage, & flammable storage.  The vehicle maintenance facility provides nine work bays for maintenance & repair as well as the necessary retaining spaces including parts storage, bulk fluid storage compressor room, tool rooms, & car wash bay.  Other provisions in the facility include equipment rooms, toilet/locker rooms, & breakroom.  Electronic security control is provided throughout  the complex.  The Quartermaster / Vehicle Maintenance Facility design also provided a LEED Silver rating.

Location:  Colonie, New York

Photo: Courtesy of WCGS Architects

The Doane Stuart School

The Doane Stuart School selected an abandoned public school building as their new home and embarked on its transformation into a handsome, inspirational facility to service its unique education mission.

The original building was constructed in the 1930’s and has a distinct art-deco design.  A substantial addition was constructed in the mid 1990’s.

The project converted the building for occupancy by the Doane Stuart School.  Quantum Engineering Co., provided all related plumbing, HVAC, electric, lighting, and fire protection engineering design and construction phase services.  One of the great transformations was the modification of the original 1930’s gymnasium into its new use as an interfaith chapel and meeting hall.

More recently the Doane Stuart School pursued and completed the installation of a “Green Roof” to reduce stormwater runoff and reduce energy costs.

Location:  Albany, NY

Crandall Public Library

The original Library was constructed in 1930 and a substantial addition was added in the 1960’s.  The Library had again outgrown their building and a new facility was required.  This new 46,000 sf facility retains the original 1930 building and integrates the new addition to house functions such as stack areas, computer rooms, teen and children’s areas, folklife archives, and 200 seat multi-purpose community room.  Quantum Engineering provided full design for the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fire protection systems.  A new 1600A electric service from the underground utility network will ensure suitable power for the ever growing computer uses.  The lighting control system includes automatic low voltage switching, automatic occupancy sensors throughout the stack areas, and daylight photocells for control of perimeter and skylight areas.  The new HVAC system includes VAV air distribution throughout with hot water baseboard and full DDC control for proper control of indoor comfort conditions. The building achieved LEED “Certified” rating with points for energy efficiency, individual control, ozone depletion, and carbon dioxide monitoring.

Location:  Glens Falls, NY

Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library

The library is a 55,000 sq. ft., two-story, green, state-of-the-art public library. The mechanical system includes two ultra high-efficiency gas-fired condensing boilers & two high-efficiency applied roof-top VAV systems. The plumbing systems includes water savings touch-free faucets & flush valves.  The building includes an automated dimming system.  The lighting system is designed with a low-power consumption when coupled together with the daylight dimming system results in very low energy consumption. The lighting is controlled by a central digital lighting control system that incorporates the daylight dimming, architectural dimming, occupancy sensors, and on/off controls into one system.  The building is LEED “Certified” with points for energy efficiency, individual control, ozone depletion, & carbon dioxide monitoring.

Location:  Clifton Park, New York

Photo: Courtesy of WCGS Architects