SUNY University at Buffalo Crosby Hall

Pathfinder, now IMEG, provided award-winning mechanical, plumbing, fire protection engineering and energy modeling for the renovation of the historic 76,000 sq. ft. Crosby Hall, housing classrooms, studio and office space for the School of Architecture and Planning. It originally housed the School of Business Administration (School of Management). This project was designed with a Deep Energy Savings Retrofit target of 50% energy reduction relative to the building’s existing consumption and the goal of LEED Gold certification.

Pathfinder performed extensive energy analyses to compare various HVAC system options and how the existing campus central plants operate maximize the energy efficiencies for Crosby Hall and the South Campus chilled water loop.  Three potential mechanical systems were analyzed: Variable Air Volume with Reheat, Water-Loop Heat Pumps (WLHP) and Fan Coil Units. All potential systems reduced the EUI to below 50 kBtu/sf-yr. The energy model showed that the WLHP system had the lowest operating EUI of 25.7 kBtu/sf-yr and provided an all-electric option using the central chilled water plant.

Mechanical design included a full replacement of the existing HVAC systems with new mechanical equipment, ductwork, piping and DDC controls to tie into the existing campus BMS system. Pathfinder identified and designed a mechanical system option that utilizes water source heat pumps tied into the existing campus chilled water loop, which is innovative in how it utilizes the existing campus central chilled water plants and piping loop while removing the need for steam heat — while staying within the project budget.

Plumbing and fire protection design included a new domestic water and sanitary distribution piping to new fixture locations, new domestic hot water system, and an automatic sprinkler system on floors above the basement. New exterior perimeter drainage systems addressed water infiltration issues in the basement.