MA Engineers performed the mechanical and plumbing design for this large housing complex at UCSD. The project, a complex of three and four-story wood frame low-rise buildings with one 14-story tower, cost $122 million to build and an estimated 21 months to construct. In addition to the new beds, meeting rooms, lobby, staff offices and two central laundry spaces, there is a café and bookstore within the facilities. As part of the design, MA Engineers conducted extensive computer modeling to optimize the building shape, material, orientation, etc. This project has been rated LEED Silver equivalent based on UCSD standards.
Mechanical System
- High efficiency boilers and radiators—all buildings
- No living space air conditioning because all bedrooms have sliding operable windows for natural ventilation
- Extensive building envelope energy modeling
- Variable frequency drives for all pumps and fans
- State-of-the-art Energy Management Control System (EMCS)
- Split system heat pumps for air conditioned common spaces
Plumbing system
- Solvent engineered waster and vent systems—14-story tower
- Duplex domestic cold water booster pump system—14-story tower
- High efficiency natural gas-fired domestic water heaters
- Conventional, condensing, sanitary waste and vent systems—all buildings, excluding tower
- Domestic cold, hot and hot water return systems
- Natural gas feeding heating boilers, domestic water heater, clothes dryers and café
