ate’s largest city.
With enrollment rapidly growing since its inception, the South Dakota Public Universities and Research Center, also known as University Center, was in need of additional space. The Science and Technology Classroom Building addressed these needs with 50,000 square feet of additional office, classroom and laboratory spaces.
Electrical systems design included medium voltage power distribution, emergency power distribution, low voltage power distribution, lighting, communication and data distribution, fire alarm system and security system distribution. The lighting system is more energy efficient than what is required by ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED criteria. The building lighting is controlled by individual occupancy sensors for energy savings, and the lighting system and lighting controls assist in achieving a more energy efficient building and additional points for LEED certification. The design included cabling for a security system that utilizes a card reader system to allow and record access into faculty areas of the building.
The HVAC system was designed to meet or exceed ASHRAE 90.1, ASHRAE 62.1 and ASHRAE 55 standards and consists of three air handling systems. One serves the office areas, the second serves the classrooms and the third the laboratory area. The air handling units for the offices and classrooms incorporate a total energy recovery wheel. These wheels conserve energy by capturing the heat from the exhaust air stream and utilize it to preheat the incoming fresh air.
The laboratory air handling unit is a 100 percent outside air unit, which is matched with a laboratory exhaust fan to provide fresh air into the laboratory spaces. No air within the laboratory spaces is recirculated back into the building, which is done to minimize odor transfer between the laboratory spaces and the rest of the building. This system also incorporates an energy recovery system that captures heat from the exhaust stream and utilizes it to preheat the incoming fresh outdoor air.