PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Delta provided existing condition assessment, reporting, and PS&E design for the Central Administration Building (CAB) and the DeKalb Disaster Recovery Center (DDRC).  These facilities were experiencing operational deficiencies and required upgrades to meet additional power and cooling demands.

ASSESSMENT & REPORTS

Systems assessed at CAB & DDRC:

• 480V electrical power distribution, backup generators, uninterruptable power supply (UPS), and automatic transfer switches
• HVAC and fire suppression

The assessment approach included:

• Site walkthroughs and visual observations of all systems
• Interviews with facility personnel
• Collection and review of existing available documentation
• Load analysis for power and cooling

Delta developed a comprehensive report outlining corrective actions for short and long-term upgrade paths. The report also highlighted concerns and recommendations regarding:

• Code violations
• Redundancy to avoid single points
• Comparative analysis and schematic design for alternatives to replace generators and chillers; making them dedicated to the Data Center. Generators studied varied in size from 300kW to 550kW and air-cooled chillers were 175 ton in capacity.
• Associated equipment needs such as fiber optic cabling and switchgear
• Procedural changes for maintenance staff

PS&E DESIGN FOR INTERIM MOMDERNIZATION

The subsequent focus of the project centered around the immediate needs for the CAB’s 3,500 SF Data Center, which was experiencing power shortages and difficulty maintaining cool temperatures.

Design will accommodate short-term expansion up to 50% along with operational improvements until a final decision is made on long-term future upgrades at both facilities. Redundancy was added using ‘N+1’ methodology to maintain operations in the event of single power failure or required maintenance.

Electrical improvements included two new UPS systems, battery cabinets, battery monitoring system, and associated hardware including panels, fuses, automatic transfer switches and cabling.

Mechanical improvements included three new A/C units totaling 26,600 CFM to work in conjunction with seven existing A/C units, all utilizing existing chilled water supply and return connections.

Delta’s services included bidding and construction phases with site observation, weekly meetings, and contractor submittal reviews.