Leers Weinzapfel Associates

East Regional Chilled Water Plant

East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf

East Regional Chilled Water Plant

Leers Weinzapfel

AREA
23163 ft²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Brad Feinknopf

YEAR
2014

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
Shook Construction

LIGHTING DESIGN
Francis Krahe & Associates, Inc.

CIVIL ENGINEER
Korda

LANDSCAPE
Reed Hilderbrand

MEP ENGINEER
Rmf Engineering

PRINCIPAL
Andrea P. Leers

PROJECT MANAGER
Joseph Raia

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Rmf Engineering

PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE
Jane Weinzapfel

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT
Gbbn

DESIGNER
Chien Hung-yang, Juliet Chun

LOCATION
Columbus , United States

CATEGORY
Industrial Architecture

On a prominent site between campus and city, this critically important large infrastructure facility fits comfortably among its smaller academic neighbors, preserves an important green space, and frames the gateway for a new campus entry.

East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf

The large scale structure is modulated by its composition of two offset volumes: a lower, glazed rectangular volume with semi-transparent views from the interior looking out, and an upper lifted square volume with perforated metal walls of copper colored, resin coated aluminum that provides a cost-effective water cooling tower enclosure.

Designed to support densely packed equipment layouts, both volumes respond to unique engineering requirements.

East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf

The upper screen wall is designed with two perforation densities, together with narrow open slots achieve the average 35% open area needed for equipment ventilation.

The screen effectively shades the lower glazed volume and is a modern companion to the brick used widely throughout the campus.

The lower, glazed volume is designed with large panels of heat-strengthened glass with three densities of translucent ceramic frit and clear glass at the columns; together these gently screen the chiller equipment within, and no artificial lighting is needed during daytime working hours.

East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf

Both volumes are gently LED illuminated at night to provide site lighting for the surrounding pedestrian zones and to continue the dialogue between the forms and their contrasting materials.

The glowing crystalline lower volume is illuminated from the inside, while the metallic volume above is illuminated above.

The new plant significantly improves campus central plant reliability, energy efficiency and environmental air quality.

East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf


East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
© Brad Feinknopf


East Regional Chilled Water Plant
Section


East Regional Chilled Water Plant
Ground Floor Plan
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
Upper Floor Plan
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
Site Plan


East Regional Chilled Water Plant
Section
East Regional Chilled Water Plant
Section



East Regional Chilled Water Plant
Screen Study

Leers Weinzapfel Associates
T +1 617 4235711
Leers Weinzapfel Associates
75 Kneeland St #301, Boston, MA 02111, United States