Extended within the fifth floor ceiling space from those connection points in the core and shell package were the supply and return air, heating hot water, domestic water, sanitary and vent piping, and medical gas systems. A new isolation exhaust fan was located on the roof of the sixth floor above and ducted, via an existing shaft to the fifth floor ceiling space. General exhaust fans provided under the core and shell documents were rebalanced or replaced to accommodate the additional general exhaust air needs of the fifth floor fitout . The project required upgrades and extensions to the various existing electrical systems; including, normal and emergency power distribution, lighting, fire alarm and detection systems, telephone and various internal communications systems. Each NICU bed location was served from two separate critical branch distribution networks for improved reliability and ease of maintenance. Indirect lighting was installed throughout all patient care areas with dimming and lighting controls.

Leach Wallace was commissioned to design the expansion of the 300,000 sf New Patient Tower at Holy Cross, located in Silver Spring, Maryland. The expansion of the hospital included a 150 bed patient tower, including a new central energy plant and major renovation to the existing front lobby for circulation to the new tower. The major site renovations included a large expansion to the existing parking garage, new site utilities, underground fuel oil storage tanks, generators on grade, and site lighting.

A new central energy plant was provided to the penthouse of the new bed tower to service the entire campus. The new central energy plant included included a 3,000+ ton chiller plant with variable flow primary pumping systems and rooftop cooking tower yard, 50,000 lb/hr high pressure steam plant with new feed water systems. It also included central air handling systems with energy recovery, general and critical exhaust systems, domestic hot water plant, as well as main electrical distribution rooms, stair pressurization systems, central elevator machine room and smoke purge.

At the basement and ground level floor new central campus normal power distribution, emergency power distribution and paralleling gear room, central fire pump, domestic water booster pump, and steam-to-hot water heating plant. For energy recovery, a 750 ton heat pump chiller was provided, which will pre-cool the campus return chilled water returning to the central plant in the penthouse, and rejects its heat through condenser water to a loop in the heating hot water plant. All major air distribution was delivered to the floors as medium pressure, with air terminal units in the spaces to maintain individual zone loads.

The project was designed to achieve a “certified rating” from the USGBC. In addition, Green Guides for Healthcare (GGHC) Facilities document was utilized to identify a list of proposed sustainable features. This facility is seeking LEED Silver.

The firm was established in 1990 with the purpose of providing comprehensive mechanical, electrical, and energy systems engineering design services for institutional, commercial, industrial and governmental clients. Leach Wallace’s focus and expertise for mechanical and electrical system design includes heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, fire protection, electrical power distribution, lighting, and communications systems.

Leach Wallace is experienced in facility master planning, utility infrastructure and the design and evaluation of central heating and cooling plants for such project types as higher educational, healthcare, academic medical, corporate office buildings, industrial facilities commissioning and data centers.

 

Leach Wallace Associates was involved with the project from the beginning, providing input on MEP shell & core building infrastructure requirements associated with the planned hospital fitouts. The existing Cancer Center function in the existing hospital required expansion to allow better patient care. To accommodate the expansion, the medical oncology function was proposed to move to the first floor of the new MOB. Leach Wallace worked closely with the staff and architects to design a new state-of-the-art medical oncology department, including a USP-797 compliant Pharmacy, infusion bays and exam/treatment rooms. Once the MOB spaces were completed, the staff moved to their new spaces and the existing Cancer Center was renovated to expand the radiation oncology function. Under concurrent fitout design packages, LWA designed the 21,000 SF Cardiovascular Suite and 12,500 SF Lung Center. All of the fitout projects were simultaneously constructed to allow a grand opening of all functions at the same general timeframe.

 

The facility was provided with two packaged rooftop air handling units, each serving two floors. HVAC was provided via an all-air system with ducted supply mains, fan-powered and variable air volume supply air terminal units with electrical reheat coils, return air plenum ceilings and a direct digital control system, capable of remote operation by the owner located in another state. Additionally, power was metered on each floor to allow the owner flexibility in billing tenants.

 

The mechanical / electrical infrastructure consisted of five custom rooftop air handling units, domestic hot water plant, heat pump chiller, medical gas equipment, domestic water booster pump, kitchen air, seven automatic transfer switches, emergency and equipment branch distribution switchboards, incoming normal power switchgear with manual main-tie-main set-up.

 

The expansion added three 3000 MBH output hot water boilers, two 600 ton chillers to the plant, and two 600 ton cooling towers. A 10,000 gallon fuel oil tank was added to the system. The existing generator plant was expanded to include two 1000KW generators. Additional distribution and generator input sections were added to existing paralleling switchgear.

 

This project also included various fit-ups and modifications to the existing buildings on campus. The outpatient building was converted to a more clinical building, fit-up with a Cardiopulmonary Department, and renovated to join and expand the Emergency Department of the new hospital building. The medical office building was fit-up with a Timeshare Suite. A new data center was designed/constructed in the second floor central energy plant. New MEP systems were provided, and existing systems were expanded within the central energy plant to serve the new hospital.

 

Electrical engineering systems design involves medium to low voltage power, emergency generation and distribution, lighting and telecommunication systems. In designing electrical systems, energy efficiency is always a top priority. Systems are designed with respect to future flexibility and growth. Services provided in electrical engineering include a multitude of projects ranging from lights and receptacles for an office renovation to emergency generation.

Commissioning makes everything clear and sets all processes right even before major issues arise. It is fundamental in assuring clients a smooth transition from the completion of project construction, assembly and installation, allowing the owner to attain the confidence to run and maintain building systems. As industrialization progressed through the decades, commissioning has become a formalized and intricate process for buildings which include the efficient use of modern equipment, innovative systems and detailed operating procedures to avoid fraud. Experience and expertise count as a formidable pair of requisites no one can do without in going through this crucial process.

Specifically, Leach Wallace engineers undertake the process of commissioning meticulously in order to render documented validation that building systems operate and follow the standards set by the owner's operational requirements and as stipulated in the project specifications. Matching the two - design and operational targets -- is vital to assuring clients that Leach Wallace has the experience and capability to deliver a well-designed and efficient building system. Moreover, a complete commissioning process pinpoints and adjusts costly operational issues or inadequacies.

Leach Wallace enjoys the trust and confidence of its many clients as it has consistently sought to satisfy their needs through the whole process of developing, designing, commissioning and operating a project. And even well beyond those steps, as clients continue to return to Leach Wallace for additional services.

 

Leach Wallace has more than 80% of its work devoted to old clients who have learned to depend on the company’s valuable expertise and proven leadership in design, geared toward establishing a strong and lasting business relationship with its clients. 

 

Leach Wallace Associates, Inc. provides the highest-quality consultancy to all individuals and companies they serve. The company employs some of the best engineering professionals of the country and trains and inspires them to deliver excellent results through a responsive commitment to satisfy its clients’ building systems requirements. The firm consistently establishes a company-client partnership which aims to provide efficient solutions, reliable design and planning processes, and top-quality implementation of projects.  Throughout its existence, the company has proven the effectiveness of its methods from the numerous clients who have returned to seek additional services, many of whom have attested to the firm’s capability to exceed their expectations. 

 

Leach Wallace Associates, Inc. began operating in 1990 and, since then, has specialized in providing mechanical engineering consultancy which covers such works as reuse, retrofit or replacement of existing systems and the design of new central heating plants. They aim to optimize systems which allow clients to improve their cost-benefit targets through installing systems which incorporate flexibility and redundancy in the future.

 

Wallace Associates consulting engineers possess the knowhow to address clients’ needs, based on an enduring relationship that is mutually beneficial and with no fraud policy. Twenty-six years should be long enough to prove how successful Leach Wallace Associates, Inc. has been in its mission to provide to quality engineering consultancy.

 

Energy-systems engineering involves, ordinarily, an initial evaluation of an operating or conceptual mechanical and electrical system in general to source out alternative sources of energy most suitable for an owner’s project use. The common process utilized to achieve this goal is modeling – a procedure which ends in determining the best alternative source or sources of inexpensive or renewable energy. Vital to this procedure is the achievement of energy conservation, making sure that building system components and equipment are analyzed based on its entire life’s projected operating cost requirements. Hence, electrical and mechanical system options and appurtenant sub-systems are considered according to the least possible cost of operation, as well as to the availability of alternative energy sources and costs.

 

Likewise, electrical engineering systems design requires low to medium voltage power, emergency power generation and distribution, lighting requirements and telecommunication network systems. Efficiency is the primary consideration in any design involving these electrical systems, needless to say. They also demand flexibility and growth for future energy and operational needs. Leach Wallace consulting engineers are well trained and equipped to provide efficient services in electrical engineering -- specifically, in such works as installation of lights and receptacles for an office renovation and in emergency power generation.

 

Energy comprises an essential component in any enterprise, which can run wild in terms of costs if not properly evaluated beforehand. Seeking these alternatives to sources involves vast knowhow and experience in building engineering systems, which Leach Wallace has gained through the years. Without this track record, their trustful clients would be hard put to determine the best possible alternatives toward achieving their goals, particularly in energy needs.

Leach Wallace has more than 80% of its work devoted to old clients who have learned to depend on the company’s valuable expertise and proven leadership in design, geared toward establishing a strong and lasting business relationship with its clients.

Leach Wallace Associates, Inc. provides the highest-quality consultancy to all individuals and companies they serve. The company employs some of the best engineering professionals of the country and trains and inspires them to deliver excellent results through a responsive commitment to satisfy its clients’ building systems requirements. The firm consistently establishes a company-client partnership which aims to provide efficient solutions, reliable design and planning processes, and top-quality implementation of projects.  Throughout its existence, the company has proven the effectiveness of its methods from the numerous clients who have returned to seek additional services, many of whom have attested to the firm’s capability to exceed their expectations.

Leach Wallace Associates, Inc. began operating in 1990 and, since then, has specialized in providing mechanical engineering consultancy which covers such works as reuse, retrofit or replacement of existing systems and the design of new central heating plants. They aim to optimize systems which allow clients to improve their cost-benefit targets through installing systems which incorporate flexibility and redundancy in the future.

Wallace Associates consulting engineers possess the knowhow to address clients’ needs, based on an enduring relationship that is mutually beneficial and with no fraud policy. Twenty-six years should be long enough to prove how successful Leach Wallace Associates, Inc. has been in its mission to provide to quality engineering consultancy.