Construction Cost: $14.4 Million

Size: 49,880 Square Foot Addition

Awarded LEED Gold Certification

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Mechanical Principal: Gene Schmidt

Energy Specialist: Gene Schmidt

Electrical Principal: Todd Nicholson

Structural Principal: Stuart Smith

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Schmidt Consulting Group, Inc. provided full design services for the addition and renovation of the AFCENT Headquarters at Shaw AFB, SC.  The addition provides approximately 49,880 SF of new space for the relocation of four primary user groups (Director of Intelligence, Decorations Processing Unit, Financial Management, and Army Battlefield Coordination Detachment) that currently work remotely from the AFCENT staff.  The two-story facility includes a fire-protected connector between levels one and two of existing building 1130 and a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) area. The facility is LEED Gold Certified. 

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MECHANICAL

The building cooling and heating system was designed with efficiency in mind.  It includes chilled water VAV air handling units with hot water reheat terminal units serving the office areas and chilled water computer room units serving the main server room. The chilled water system consists of high efficiency water-cooled chillers and cooling towers with a variable primary pumping chilled water distribution system. The heating water hydronic system consists of high efficiency condensing boilers each sized for 67% of maximum design load with a variable primary secondary pumping hot water distribution system. Total energy wheel recovery systems are provided to each AHU to pre-treat the outside air with the cool building exhaust air prior to the fresh air entering the VAV air handling units. All mechanical equipment is controlled by a Direct Digital Control (DDC) system that communicates with the existing base UMCS. Carbon dioxide (CO2) detectors as well as an airflow measuring station was used to obtain LEED NC v3.0 IEQ Credit 1 – Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring.  Plumbing fixtures were specified with water conservation in mind to reduce facility water usage. The domestic water system consists of a natural gas, high efficiency condensing type instantaneous water heaters.

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ELECTRICAL

Alterations to the electrical system were needed to support the headquarters renovation and addition. The existing electrical service for buildings 702, 1128, and 1049 was demolished to the source of primary power and the new electrical service connected to the existing 12.47/7.2kV, three phase, four wire, 60 Hertz electrical power system.  A new pad mounted transformer provides service to the existing building and the new addition.  Energy efficient features are a key part of the lighting design.  All exterior site lighting is controlled by photocell and time switches so the lighting will automatically turn on and off.  Individual photocell switches on each luminaire provide exterior lighting control.  Fluorescent lighting fixtures throughout the facility use low harmonic distortion electronic ballasts and use low mercury T8 and compact fluorescent lamps.  Compact fluorescent fixtures capable of dimming to 5% are used in each conference room. Automatic controls including occupancy sensors and automatic lighting shut off systems are used in restrooms, electrical rooms, telecommunications rooms and similar spaces in accordance with UFC 3-530-01.

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STRUCTURAL

The specialized structural design incorporates many features specific to the secure nature of the facility.  The Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) design meets blast requirements at areas within the minimum setback distances, including increased blast pressures at the roof.  The facility’s floor system incorporates composite steel beams/steel joists supporting a composite steel deck with concrete fill.  Exterior walls consist of structural steel braced framing with precast concrete, designed to meet the requirements of Seismic Design Category D.  Special wall, roof, and window protection was incorporated.  The second floor utilizes composite steel beams sized to minimize vibrations.

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COMMUNICATIONS/AUDIO VISUAL/ SECURITY

A specialized and secure communications design was needed to support the headquarters functions.  Each training, briefing, and conference room has a motorized project screen and video teleconferencing centers (VTC).  The SCIF areas have red rotating beacons that can be seen from any location within the SCIF to indicate when there are non-cleared guests within the space.  A compact fluorescent spotlight illuminates each X09 lock at the entrance to each classified area.