Middle Campus Chiller Plant

SWBR provided the design for a steel-framed addition that more than doubled the size of the campus chiller facility. A deep foundation system of driven steel piles was utilized to support the superstructure and masonry end walls. Tall masonry and perforated steel screen walls above the main roof slab shield large cooling towers from view while providing necessary ventilation. Large horizontal steel trusses brace the top of the screen walls to resist lateral wind and seismic loading. Pre-design effort included analysis of the existing structural frame to resist additional loads beyond the originally anticipated expansion footprint. Design and implementation of a reinforcing scheme became part of the project. Provisions were made to support various future cooling tower configurations to be installed in later phases. A structural slab supported by concrete grade beams was designed to support the ground floor. These efforts allowed the University to construct a larger facility with more flexible equipment selection options.