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SSOE is providing multi-disciplinary design services to the four Veteran Affairs (VA) medical centers in Michigan as part of an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The renovation of the second floor of Building 83 is one project from the IDIQ, on the VA Battle Creek campus.

This project focused on the renovation of 18,170 SF of space in the Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU). The existing space contained large, multi-bed dorm rooms which were reconfigured to private bedrooms and bathrooms in compliance with current VA design criteria. A portion of the rooms were designed to accommodate bariatric residents and other specialized needs.

The entire interior of the second floor was demolished to provide a floor plan that would meet the current and future needs of the residents and staff. The secondary electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and medical gas systems were upgraded and replaced. All items were required to be coordinated with the previously renovated first floor plan and systems.

In addition to privacy, patient safety and security was critical to the success of this project. SSOE’s design services included nurse call systems, upgrades to the building fire alarm systems, wireless network design for improved coverage, IP security camera additions, and Network Video Recorder (NVR) storage expansion to provide adequate video storage.

The future residents of the facility and their care was the leading factor in the design. New nursing stations were created at the center of each patient care area to allow for better patient observation. Open dining and family rooms for visitors, a large dayroom for activities, and bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms are also examples of patient focused care. All of the finishes and space planning focused on eliminating the existing institutional feeling and providing for a welcoming and residential aesthetic.

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SSOE was recently selected to provide full planning, design, and construction administration services for a greenfield solar wafer manufacturing facility.

Having completed FEL 1 and 2 of this project, SSOE provided site readiness requirements and recommendations, Basis of Design, conceptual facility designs and plans, basic cost estimating, and a preliminary design schedule. Throughout FEL 1, SSOE performed value engineering evaluations in which the client approved design solutions totaling approximately $400 million in project savings.

The facility design includes a main process area, wastewater treatment, raw and finished goods warehouses, elevated operating floors, administrative, and office spaces. The scope of the project includes facility layout (civil, structural, architectural), water supply distribution, HVAC, electrical supply and distribution, emergency safety systems, fire protection design, and waste and hazardous material management. In addition to adhering to client standards and code compliance, SSOE is also delivering a sustainable building design.

According to a recent Client Satisfaction Survey, the client noted “They [SSOE] are always looking for the best solution that fits within the budget, of me being the customer. They are constantly offering, I’ll say, brainstormed ideas, or various ideas of how to solve the problem in the most effective way to satisfy the customer.”

Although this is currently a confidential client and project, the client gave SSOE a 10 out of 10 on the survey when answering “how likely they would be to recommend SSOE to a colleague.”

To date, SSOE value engineered project solutions totaling $400 million in savings.

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Due to a recent acquisition, this client is closing a plant in the South and moving its three different product lines to separate existing plants. Because of SSOE’s successful execution of a recent network optimization project, we were asked to assist the client in moving one of the three lines affected by this complex plant consolidation. Using the same team that worked on the previous plant relocation project, we capitalized on their knowledge of the client’s equipment and installation specs and standards, utilizing many design details from the recently completed project.

Well into the design of the original project, the client changed course due to the extreme product demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. They gave us three days to collaborate with vendors to develop a cost estimate to purchase and install all new process and packaging equipment for the destination plant and completely re-engineer the two production lines. Without hesitation, SSOE shifted direction to help this long-time client achieve their business and market needs. The pandemic also required us to change the way we worked together: we moved from face to face communication to virtual communication and utilized large venues for major client review meetings to achieve social distancing requirements.

To properly manage a project of this size and scope, SSOE utilized a Project Manager / Design Manager approach, both of whom have worked with this client for many years: the Project Manager is the Packaging Subject Matter Expert who acted as the Owner’s Representative and handled client interface and overall project cost and schedule management; the Design Manager is the Process Lead and discipline coordinator.

The project is on schedule to have new lines running at the new facility in August 2021, only three months after the original scope’s due date. SSOE’s services for the project include structural, architectural, civil, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, process, controls, packaging, fire protection, lighting, wastewater treatment, overall project scheduling, on-site construction management, and project management.

SSOE recorded over $1.35 million in project savings through implementation of multiple value engineering opportunities and identification of sales tax credits.

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HCW Biologics needed to grow its operation and turned to SSOE to scale up. The client is transitioning from research and development to clinical trials for oncological and age-related medicine. With our Design-Build partner BE&K, SSOE provided full-service programming and planning, architecture, and engineering for the renovation of a 40,000 SF existing office, and warehouse space to be repurposed as laboratories, cGMP production spaces, warehouse, and support spaces.

Through workshops and collaboration with the scientific staff, our team generated a flexible and adaptable research laboratory. We worked with the client to develop their new production facility and guided the client through the development of their manufacturing procedures and established a Quality Assurance / Quality Control process.

Because the pharmaceutical industry is repatriating the drug manufacturing process, SSOE understood the client’s need to fast-track this project. Our national lab planner worked with HCW Biologics to ensure we were not repeating their smaller-scale configuration. Instead, we listened to the client to know what did and did not work in their limited operation to provide a more successful spatial arrangement in the designs for the larger operation.

SSOE designed spaces for specialty research labs including bioreactor, process, and microbiology, in addition to tissue culture and research laboratories. The new 5,000 SF cGMP cleanroom environment includes ISO 7 production labs and an ISO 6 sterile filling suite.

Finally, the project also included the addition of a new 1,000 SF vivarium space that is supplemental to animal holding including procedure rooms, isolation, and support spaces to facilitate vivarium operations. SSOE provided programming, planning, architecture, interior design, fire alarm, fire protection, technology, and structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and process engineering for the project. Construction will be completed in March 2024.

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Having extensive international manufacturing experience combined with nationwide higher education experience made SSOE the right choice for Owens Community College for the design of their new Dana Advanced Manufacturing Training Center. SSOE’s manufacturing facility design experts worked closely with our higher education team and the client to incorporate the latest manufacturing trends into Owen’s new real-world training center. We have worked on thousands of industrial projects and kept pace with this dynamic industry by working alongside experts in the field. The application of the knowledge we have gained resulted in the delivery of a teaching and training facility that truly reflects today’s manufacturing environments. Simulation of real-world working environments allows students to be prepared for success as they complete their courses and enter the workforce.

This project included the renovation of an existing high bay building into an advanced manufacturing education and workforce training facility. The facility includes seven classrooms for training and education, five computer labs, hydraulic / pneumatic lab, two mechanical labs, three electrical labs, a robotics lab, pipefitting lab, four building trade labs, group project space, storage for tools and supplies, and offices spaces. The training center houses approximately $3-$4 million worth of advanced manufacturing equipment. Also included in the project is site development to include 100-200 new parking spaces adjacent to the building. The building’s entire mechanical system was also evaluated and updated as needed to fit the project’s needs.

SSOE performed architecture, civil, structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing engineering, fire protection, technology, communications, security design, interior design, and loose furnishings design.

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Nissan North America commissioned SSOE to provide the design of its new automotive assembly facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This 1.9 million SF facility is the first of three project phases planned for the greenfield site. SSOE delivered this fast-track project in partnership with Yates Construction, who served as the prime general contractor and provided at risk construction services for the manufacturing plant. The plant was designed, constructed, and placed in production within 22 months.

SSOE was responsible for the entire assembly plant layout and subsequent design of the automotive manufacturing campus. The project involved multiple buildings to be completed simultaneously, including more than 300 acres of developed land, a stamping facility, body assembly shop, paint shop, and final assembly area. Additional facilities were designed to support the manufacturing system, such as an electrical switchyard; water pretreatment, wastewater treatment, and stormwater systems; and a fire protection system, including storage tanks.

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ProMedica Health System, a locally owned, non-profit healthcare organization serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan established in 1986, has completed the renovation and construction of their new corporate headquarters in downtown Toledo, Ohio. The move to downtown’s waterfront entailed the renovation of the vacant historical Edison Steam Plant, renovation of the adjacent former Key Bank building, and construction of a new multi-level parking structure.

In cooperation with HKS, SSOE was the firm of choice to provide full mechanical, electrical, plumbing, technology, and fire protection (MEPT / FP) design services for the two large commercial office structures. Our team of experts carefully evaluated the existing buildings and the historic aspect of each building that needed to be maintained, and provided detailed engineering design for the HVAC and plumbing systems, the Data / Fire / Security systems, the fire suppression systems, and the electrical system, including site lighting.

The existing Key Bank building will house a new YMCA space in the basement level, the Chop House restaurant on the lobby level, and office spaces on floors two, three, and four. The large variety of mixed building use is unique to this type of project but was successfully handled by the design team. SSOE is proud to be a part of this local project that promotes economic growth and urban revitalization. The project was completed in August 2017.

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SSOE’s client ProMedica, a prominent hospital and healthcare system serving communities in 28 states, was interested in providing services to an underserved area of Toledo, Ohio, where the client’s headquarters resides. The building selected had been vacant for years, sitting on a corner just outside the Central Business District in a re-emerging urban neighborhood. Our client wanted to address the social determinants of health, with a focus on hunger and nutrition, and increase access to healthy food, delivering nutritional education, and providing job training opportunities.

The renovation of all four floors was completed in three phases. Although it would have been ideal to work on all four floors concurrently, the budget constraints on this donation-funded project, in addition to the fact each floor had its own separate and unique systems, required our team to exercise their agility by renovating one floor at a time. First came the Market on the Green—a 6,700 SF nonprofit grocery store that offers nutritional options for people in the neighborhood, formerly deemed a “food desert.” Located on the ground floor, the full-service grocery store also offers nutrition education for customers in an area that previously lacked accessibility to whole food providers. The second floor now offers financial services, training rooms, as well as a space for healthy cooking classes—complete with a commercial kitchen. The third floor is currently leased out to a tenant who hired 60 individuals from the neighborhood and has committed to creating more Toledo-based jobs in the future. The fourth and final floor is currently being utilized by ProMedica’s Population Health program.

The fourth floor is the capstone of the building and the Ebeid Institute initiative. The open workspace immediately welcomes visitors upon entering, offering a view from the top and a different perspective of their neighborhood. The three enclosing walls are perforated with multiple window openings, with an unadorned solid brick wall as the backdrop for mechanical room and multiple gathering spaces of varying size for clients to privately meet with their service providers. Along this row of meeting spaces is a dedicated nerve center intended to evolve into a data-gathering / data-sharing hub within a technology-rich environment. Here researchers and guests can obtain the latest information on Population Health and the social determinants. The glass-fronted room serves as a symbol of ProMedica’s vision to provide a gateway to a healthy community.

SSOE was involved in the renovation of all four floors, providing full architectural and engineering design services, including interior design, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection design, and data / fire / security services. Redeveloping a space that would bring multiple agencies together is not an easy feat. An adaptable, flexible design was needed to meet the conditions, the building reflected an open plan arrangement with larger spaces, which was also key for keeping visitors emotionally and physically engaged. Existing architecture was maintained on the 1925’s stone and brick building, with existing joists and beams exposed and many of the walls left uncovered to preserve the original aesthetic. Our knowledge of complex security design allowed us to make the building welcoming for visitors, yet secure for tenants.

Today, the ProMedica Ebeid Institute is a safe place for people to connect with neighbors and service providers—a place just for them. It also provides a much needed grocery store for the area. It brought social services to uptown and set the stage for other organizations to follow suit. This area now provides more social services than any other district in the area.

 

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Viridi Parente is a developer of innovative battery technology that can be safely installed and operated in nearly any environment or location. The project increases the space on their 42-acre green tech campus to meet robust demand for its safe battery technology solutions. The company is working with Alberici Constructors to add 60,000 SF, expanding its total research lab, assembly, office, and production space to 180,000 SF. The expansion also integrates automation features, such as robotic welding technology and a vertical lift management system throughout the manufacturing space.

Located in a plant that was originally built by General Motors in 1923, Viridi Parente bought the plant in 2008 and renovated it to meet their needs and to better align the plant’s power usage with Viridi Parente’s goals of producing products with sustainable energy.

SSOE partnered with Alberici to provide mechanical, structural, electrical, data / fire / security, as well as fire protection engineering services on this project because of our specialized lithium-ion battery plant design expertise. Our team worked together with the client and Alberici to provide design solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective. The newly expanded spaces include 30,000 SF for lab and assembly space and an additional 30,000 SF for increase shipping and receiving capacity. Prior to the expansion, the company occupied 120,000 SF of the campus facility with 60,000 SF of battery and machine assembly space featuring automotive-grade QA/QC, a fully integrated assembly process. It also included 20,000 SF of office and lab space, including a dedicated state-of-the-art battery testing lab for life cycle cell and module testing, thermal testing, and R&D as well as 40,000 SF shipping and receiving warehouse.

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SSOE was selected to provide architectural and engineering design for the Sandusky County Courthouse’s interior renovation project. With the main part of the building dating back to 1844 and an expansion in the 1930’s, the courthouse’s interior was in need of significant modernization. Mindful of the building’s original Grecian design, SSOE was able to complement its 19th century style, while giving it 21st century functionality.

The age of the facility provided many obstacles that had to be overcome to ensure the design was feasible with the building’s current architecture and the schedule could be realized. The courthouse’s architectural improvements included ADA upgrades, enhancements to both public and staff areas, and department layout improvements to provide increased efficiency—marrying contemporary and traditional finishes throughout for a uniform appearance. Project savings were realized by preserving existing corridor marble walls with the removal of 100+ years of build-up.

The courthouse’s technology and security systems received a complete overhaul as well, which included installing a single point of entry with metal detectors, securing all remaining access doors with card reader access control. A complete lock down security system was installed with alert buttons placed in each department for use as needed. By better defining public and staff areas, we were able to improve workflow from one department to the next. Most importantly, employee safety was significantly enhanced through the security and mass notification measures put in place by SSOE’s data / fire / security experts.

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Historical Integrity

SSOE worked with state officials to renovate the historic South Carolina State House. Intermittently constructed over a period of 50 years and renovated numerous times since its completion, SSOE successfully developed a design strategy that would protect the historical integrity of the building by restoring several areas obscured by prior renovations.

Adapting Existing Drawings

Where current needs demanded further modifications to the structure, unifying elements were created by adapting existing details pulled from archived drawings and newly developed site plans completed by the design team.

In order to address concerns surrounding the building’s current requirements for life safety, the restoration also involved replacing all mechanical, electrical, and fire protection systems with top-tier, state-of-the-art designs, while also incorporating all required codes, ADA, seismic (which involved the creation of a base isolation system – the first of its kind east of the Mississippi), and fresh air requirements. Additionally, interior finishes were upgraded to reflect the history and overall brand essence of the State of South Carolina.

“Must-See” Architecture

Hailed as one of the state’s most iconic structures, this 150 year old landmark, is a cultural “must-see” and features key renovations of the Senate and House chambers and gallery, main lobby, legislative meeting room, library mezzanine, Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s office and staff areas, legislative council room and press office.

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Reimagined Space For A New Headquarters Facility

Batson-Cook Construction’s new headquarters was previously occupied by the Vinings Club, a former Atlanta Social Club. The old mechanical yard containing a two-cell cooling tower was transformed into an outdoor gathering space. A steel mezzanine that divided the racquetball court now overlooks the break room.

New High-Efficiency Building Systems

The base building renovation included new and reused fan-powered induction and single duct variable air volume air (VAV) terminal units, and new HVAC controls tied into the existing base building direct digital controls (DDC) system. New air terminal units were installed throughout the space. The outdoor design included the racquetball court renovation, which modified an existing constant volume air handling unit to be variable flow, while a new outdoor air supply fan with intake louver was integrated into the existing curtainwall system. Electrical renovations updated the existing base building electrical distribution systems to support the new office space layout and the use of high efficiency LED lighting was included throughout the space.

Specialty Systems Designed To Accommodate New Space

New domestic and sanitary plumbing systems support a new expansive breakroom, two new ADA restrooms, and a wellness room. The structural design and specification included a new 3,000 SF mezzanine. Reviews of the floor plan, base building, and generation of performance specification documents were also done to create an updated sprinkler system.

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Social Heart Of Campus

The Oxford Student Center (OSC) is the new social heart of Emory University’s original campus located in Oxford, GA. Serving as the new home of campus life activities and as the new front door to the campus, the project creates a welcoming entrance, an authentic Oxford College first impression for prospective students and the Oxford Community, all centered around student activity. Thoughtful attention to details, lighting, colors, scale, materials, and furniture supports student success and activities, projecting the college’s diversity, overarching excellence, and leadership in academic, research, stainability, and technology.

Timeless Story Telling

The project consisted of the renovation of a recently replaced mid-century dining hall (20,000 SF), a two-level addition (12,000 SF), and site improvements integrating the project into existing pathways and plazas. The OSC fosters first-year student engagement and second-year student leadership through collaborative student organization space that supports the 90+ student organizations on campus, a multipurpose forum created from the original dining room, a cafe, a bookstore, social lounges, gaming “hot spot” and Campus Life offices. The design solution promotes the students’ sense of ownership and belonging, a place they are comfortable using, changing, and shaping to work for them.

In addition to supporting student success and building community the project champions sustainability and environmental stewardship. The design optimizes building energy performance through energy-saving systems and strategies (chilled beams, LED lighting) utilizing the existing building infrastructure, orientation, and the site to the greatest extent. The OSC should achieve a reduction of nearly 30% in energy consumption (vs. ASHRAE 90.1-2010) targeting an annual EUI below 60 (consuming 59.33 kBtu/SF/yr) with over 40% reduction in water consumption.

A Note From American School & Universities Jury Member

“Nice introduction of colors against the contextual wood and tile. Maintains a sophisticated aesthetic while being inviting. Appropriate scale with a variety of spaces and gathering sizes. A casual and relaxed atmosphere where any student would feel at home.”

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SSOE was selected to provide planning, design, and owner representative services to GEDIA Automotive Group for their new advanced manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia, with operations expected to begin in the third quarter of 2021.

In the Dalton plant, GEDIA will produce lightweight body-in-white automotive parts and assemblies, as well as chassis components using state-of-the-art press hardening, tempering, and automated welding processes, to produce parts for electric vehicles. The German company manufactures parts for Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes vehicles and currently has one operating U.S. plant in Michigan.

GEDIA selected design / build as the project delivery method for this 185,000 SF greenfield facility. SSOE’s scope includes providing an early grading package, master plan and comprehensive bridging documents, assistance to GEDIA in the design / build contractor selection, construction administration, and on-site owner’s representative services. SSOE disciplines involved in the project include project management, architectural, civil, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, and structural.

The construction timing was essential to the process equipment installation. Per an agreement between GEDIA and the general contractor, SSOE was selected to develop the final construction documents for the entire manufacturing facility project.

With GEDIA, SSOE is supporting yet another European-based client expansion in North America, specifically to the ever-growing Southeast region where SSOE has a local presence and expert resources.

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SSOE’s complete steel prefab structural building drawing ultimately saved La-Z-Boy over $500,000.

La-Z-Boy desired a research and development center that reflected the importance of innovation and technology to their company. Their vision was to create a new state-of-the-art R&D facility with larger, modern work spaces that would aid in improving staff recruiting and retention.

The SSOE team, with construction manager Rudolph Libbe, worked closely with La-Z-Boy on this design / build project, utilizing 3D modeling reviews to communicate clearly with the client’s project team to assure they fully visualized the design concepts. This allowed the client to understand the design at each phase and see how their design requirements were being incorporated. The final design included a combination of a 50,000 SF pre-engineered research building and a 20,000 SF conventional building designed with flexibility for the office spaces.

The research / testing area includes shops, wood working, and engineering spaces. The office space has an open floor plan incorporating the flexible workplace strategy, with only one walled office for the vice president. This floor plan, along with the café and outdoor seating areas, follow La-Z-Boy’s overall strategy to have office neighborhoods where people aren’t tied to the same work space on a daily basis, providing employees with a choice of where to work. There are also movable furnishings with electrical outlets located throughout for device charging.

The Innovation Center’s corridor is lined with windows that provide a view into the research and engineering brainstorming “garages” where they refine pieces of furniture and collaborate on design innovations. SSOE’s engineering team designed a special dust collection system used in the facility.

SSOE was pleased to offer architecture, MEP and structural engineering, dust collection, data / fire / security design, steel detailing, and interior design services for this facility that met the client’s goal and vision for a modern and flexible workplace for their employees.

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The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Public Schools (MNPS) selected SSOE to lead the $20 million renovation of Stratford STEM High School, which can house up to 1200 full time students in grades 9-12. This school is a 236,653 SF building located on a 30 acre site. The site includes a baseball field, football field with a practice area, and ample parking.

MNPS’s goals for this project are for it to be an energy efficient, healthy environment for its students, and to be a high performance structure, both inside and out, with an achievement of LEED® Silver certification. The project was designed in Revit as a 3D model with a focus on a modern and functional learning environment, updating it from its late 1960’s design. MNPS sought a design that creates a warm and inviting setting that is open to the students and community, yet has a modern approach to a 21st Century Learning Environment. Openness and flexibility are maximized for current and future educational needs. The project was a complete renovation, including replacement of all mechanical and electrical systems, windows, finishes, alteration of the main entry, kitchen, band room, and the addition of a connecting corridor to the STEM area.

A few sustainable highlights of the project include the reuse of existing walls, floors, and roof, the incorporation of recycled and regional construction materials, water efficient landscaping, water use reduction, and optimized energy performance. In addition, the facility earned credit for developing density and community connectivity, having options for alternative transportation, such as access to public transportation, bicycle storage racks, and changing rooms, as well as designated parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. The renovation was awarded LEED Silver certification.

SSOE provided LEED consulting, architectural design, interior design, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering services.

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SSOE is providing architectural and engineering services to the Veterans Administration (VA) Ann Arbor Health Care System for design of a new Clinical and Administrative Building replacing the existing 1949 Building 4. The new 3-story building was designed to blend with the existing campus architecture and meet all federal VA standards. The structure will house the employee health, human resources, business office, prosthetics, and finance departments.

Services provided by SSOE include: civil, structural, architectural, interior design, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, information technology, and fire protection. Programming was completed with VA engineering and end users to determine how the new facility will meet all department requirements. Shared spaces include conference rooms, a large employee break room, and lobby spaces. The new structure provides for natural light penetrating the open floor plan, a visual interior with large expanses of exterior glazing, and a banded brick exterior to accentuate the horizontal lines of the structure. SSOE’s project scope included an asbestos survey, lead assessment, and examination of the existing site prior to demolition.

SSOE provided all site work, utility connections, communication wiring and connections, as well as handled any disruptions to the existing systems for the new structure. Existing utilities and connections on campus were field investigated for re-use and connection with the new building. Other items considered in the building design were personnel approaches, sidewalks, green areas, visual impacts, parking impacts, and landscaping.

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SSOE joined the Matheny Goldmon Architects’ team to provide mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering for the design of the Huntsville Botanical Garden’s new Guest Welcome Center. Already a world-class botanical garden, they sought a way to increase attendance and revenue opportunities in order to continue to provide the Huntsville area with beautiful gardens to visit and utilize for event rental.

The resulting new Guest Welcome Center adds a distinctive sense of grandeur and southern charm to the gardens. The stately four-column southern colonial style facility is now the focal point for the Garden’s guests upon arrival, and houses a modern facility for their executive offices, retail space, and areas for the public to enjoy. The Grand Hall was designed as a wedding venue, with a large adjoining bride / groom suite containing elegant spaces that blend into the gardens. The new facility also boasts fine dining at Table in the Garden, three new event areas of various sizes for seating from 56 -350 guests for weddings or conferences, a gift shop, café, and meeting rooms.

The new 360-degree facility presented a challenge for SSOE’s MEP engineers as they were tasked to find placement for various equipment that would be out of the guests’ sight and hearing. SSOE’s site friendly design included walls used to screen the outdoor components both visually and acoustically. Exhaust and HVAC equipment were placed on the roof without hindering the building’s beautiful architectural lines and details. The MEP design also maintained advantageous site lines from balconies and windows into the gardens without having equipment heard or in view.

Site lighting was also a focus by the SSOE design team, as the overall aesthetic of the lighting needed to reflect the location and style of the Center during both day and night time. In The Grand Hall, primarily LED lighting was used along with a user friendly, “keep it simple” touchscreen lighting control system. A lighting control relay panel was also installed for programming event on / off time of day operations for energy savings and ease of use. For the water feature and backside of the facility, reduced glare lighting methods were used to most favorably render the exterior botanical environment. The grand lobby cupola and the glass-roofed conservatory utilize direct / indirect lighting techniques to help accentuate the architectural volume of the spaces.

The new Guest Welcome Center allows Huntsville patrons to have their special events in a gorgeous facility, surrounded by the beautifully designed and proudly tended botanical gardens that lay beyond its doors.

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SSOE has a long and successful project history with BMW, including initial architectural / engineering services for previous expansions at BMW’s Spartanburg assembly plant. Because we also have extensive experience designing training and technical centers for automotive clients, BMW selected SSOE to provide design services for their new Southern Regional Technical Training Center. Our expertise in this area has proven invaluable throughout the design and construction phases of this project.

The new technical training center includes five training units, each consisting of a practical workshop and a theory classroom. SSOE worked closely with BMW to design the new facility to their unique specifications, which includes automotive equipment, furniture, ICS equipment, data network, and IT cabling routing and requirements. Additionally, design for all necessary special structural supports required for mounting of automotive equipment was included.

SSOE’s electrical engineers completed the lighting, power, emergency generation systems, fire alarm, security systems, network racks, patch panels, and cable for telephone / data networks. Parking layout, civil engineering, and landscape design also included the design of carports to utilize BMW-provided solar panels. SSOE’s structural engineers completed the design of the foundations (including soils and sub-slab specifications) and our Data / Fire / Security design team performed audio visual system design for the classrooms and public address systems.

SSOE also provided architectural, interior design, mechanical, and cost estimating services. Our partner, Alliance Consulting Engineers, provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services.

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SSOE provided complete architectural and engineering design services for the second phase build-out of the Herbert Perna Center for Physical Health Center. The project included relocation and redesign of the existing mental health and sleep lab space to the lower level of the Herbert Perna Center for Physical Health on the ProMedica Fremont Hospital Campus.

Services included: review, inspection and evaluation of the existing facilities, development and recommendation of alternatives, design development, preparation of construction and bid documents (detailed plans and specifications), conducting pre-bid meetings and walk-through, assistance during the bidding phase including recommendation for contract award. SSOE also assisted ProMedica in establishing overall project schedule and milestone dates for completion of the construction, and is providing complete construction administration services.

In addition to traditional design services, SSOE also provided data / technology, fire protection, security, communication, and access control.

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Permit requests done in parallel to reduce project execution schedule and meet permitting needs. 30% savings in energy use.

When the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) embarked on a project to consolidate the transmission remanufacturing process for all tracked military vehicles it serviced into a new, world class manufacturing facility, they enlisted SSOE to provide full facility architectural and engineering design services, as well as equipment migration design for the new facility.

As one of the top ranked firms in automotive facility design, SSOE brought state-of-the-art technology into an open floor plan, while modernizing and consolidating ANAD’s transmission remanufacturing program. This enabled a more efficient process flow from transmission disassembly through the cleaning process, to reassembly and testing.

The scope included design to support the relocation, installation, and point-of-use connections for more than 170 existing pieces of equipment from 13 buildings on the site. Additionally, more than 70 cranes, up to 10 dynamometers, and more than 30 pieces of new process machinery, both government and contractor furnished, were integrated into the facility. This project also incorporated the expansion of an existing 15kv switch yard to support the facility.

SSOE considered potential site constraints including Anti-Terrorism Force Act (ATFA) requirements, existing boundaries and easements, environmental permitting, and a concurrent USACE Cold Water Creek Relocation project, as well as project specific permits required to move an additional tributary creek flowing through the site. SSOE recommended that permit requests be done in parallel to reduce overall project execution schedule.

The facility, which is LEED Silver certified, also supports all applicable energy sustainability standards, including a 30% decrease in existing energy use, sustainable solutions for grass and landscaping, and the incorporation of natural light and high reflectant materials to minimize heat gain.

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Created a detailed RFP and negotiated with multiple vendors to reduce material and installation costs, saving the client nearly $150,000.

SSOE’s in-house Data/ Fire/ Security (DFS) team designed data, fire, CCTV, security systems, and voice systems for a  500,000 SF Research and Development (R&D) facility. Several state-of-the-art video conference and projection rooms were designed, as well as a 3,250 SF, Tier 4 data center and back-up power system to support all of the data and server needs.

The data distribution system was designed with in-floor data communication ports and wireless connectivity. The building communication infrastructure was designed to standards far exceeding TIA/EIA standards. More than 150 networked interior and exterior CCTV camera were installed to monitor and protect the owner’s intellectual property. Placement of the cameras and video storage needs were evaluated and determined by SSOE with 3D modeling views provided for reference.

The team designed a fire alarm system that was integrated into the campus style fiber optic fire alarm network, CCTV system, and access control system. The office building’s paging, sound masking, and other notification systems were integrated into the consolidated head-end, so each system took the appropriate action during an alarm condition. SSOE teams designed a complete premier detection system for the facility with several detection devices, including motion detection and glass break sensors.

SSOE integrated sustainable design features which led the main facility to achieve Gold Level LEED certification.

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Negotiated with vendors and integrators as well as created a design and installation guide. This reduced costly overruns and saved the client approximately $200,000.

Volkswagen selected SSOE to oversee architecture, engineering, and construction management for its new greenfield production facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. SSOE was responsible for the campus’ data centers, fire alarm system, access control, and CCTV systems.

The data center was designed with multiple cooling systems, power systems, and data routes for redundancy. In addition, a primary and secondary command and response building was designed, each with video walls and several communication pathways.

The campus includes ten, multi-level buildings that were connected in a Style 7 fiber optic network to eliminate communications gaps. The fire alarm system also serves as a mass notification system to alert occupants of all emergency classifications, interfacing with production-based equipment and other internal automation systems. In addition to the fire alarm system, a complete access control system was designed for several of the buildings in the complex. The entire system was designed to be monitored from primary and back-up on-site control rooms.

Cameras and monitoring systems were installed around the site and consisted of both analog and Internet Practical (IP) cameras. The CCTV system was connected to the fire alarm annunciator to allow the camera to locate and view a specific area in the event of a fire. The alarm within the facility will automatically be displayed on the video wall.

The fire alarm, access control, and CCTV systems were integrated together to provide for a converged system. If a fire alarm occurred it would unlock the respective access control doors for emergency egress and point cameras to cover the area in question. All systems were designed such that a common reporting method could be used.

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Negotiated with multiple vendors to reduce material and installation costs, saving the client over $700,000. Created design and installation standards which assured contractors and integrators installed all systems the same way. This greatly reduced cost overruns and maintained schedules.

Since 2004, SSOE has been providing this chemical manufacturer with design and start-up support for a series of complex facility expansions. SSOE’s Data / Fire / Security team provided complete design of telecommunications, LAN, WAN, MAN security, access control, CCTV, fire alarm, sound, paging, and mass notification systems as well as an extensive fiber optic network. This network, which consists of thousands of strands of single and multi-mode fiber and required installation of more than 30 miles of fiber, serves the client’s telecommunications, data, and process communications needs. The design also included an automated CCTV premier detection and alarm system.

SSOE provided the complete design for Tier 3 and Tier 4 data centers. Each tier has attached state-of-the-art control, which monitors all of the key operation processes. The primary control building space is comprised of several server rooms, offices, and a large operator room that houses a 16-foot by 80-foot video wall and 20 high-end operator stations, each equipped with six, 30-inch LCD screens. The facility is equipped with several methods of redundant cooling, communications, and power feeds.

SSOE also designed a 9ll quality, two-way radio system with multiple redundant repeaters that exceed 911 and interoperability requirements.

SSOE engineers provided on-site construction support and supervised the entire installation of the system and commissioned its operations. The entire project came in under budget and ahead of schedule.

SSOE ordered all equipment on behalf of the client and negotiated bulk discounts. The team’s deep understanding of the client’s facility and processes earned the firm “preferred engineering partner” status. It also resulted in SSOE being hired to provide similar services for the client’s new facility in southeast USA.

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14% less energy use for long term savings. Environmental pilot for future facilities.

As part of the Army and Air Force’s initiative to construct all new buildings to green standards, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) made plans for a new, sustainable retail facility on the Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. The one stop, state-of-the-art facility, serving more than 50,000 active, reserve, and retired military personnel and their dependents, was one of the first AAFES facilities to pursue LEED Silver certification. It was also part of the USGBC’s pilot program to develop LEED guidelines for the retail industry. SSOE spearheaded the design of the facility with a with a food court, sales area, specialty vendors, onsite fuel stations, outdoor lifestyle areas, and a loading dock, while also leading LEED certification efforts.

SSOE designed a data / voice, fire alarm, and mass notification combination system for this 167,000 SF facility. As part of the data communication system, a wireless study was performed to determine the best placement of wireless internet antennas. The wireless system was designed to comply with the IEEE 802.11 wireless standard.

Using more than 20% recycled materials, the facility also features an energy management system to coordinate efficient lighting, heating, and air conditioning systems that reduce energy consumption and costs. A roofing membrane reflects 78% of sunlight minimizing energy use within the facility and water-efficient equipment reduces water consumption by 20%. A central cooling tower and chilled water system provide a high efficiency means to cool the complex. Using 14% less energy than a traditional similar facility, AAFES has used this environmental model as a pilot example of how to conduct future design and construction projects. Other distinctive aspects of the project include implementation of Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) standards relative to siting considerations, building controls, and security systems.

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Dover Light & Power, with whom SSOE has a 20+ year relationship, called upon our firm to design a fiber optic backbone loop around the City of Dover, Ohio. The fiber optic cable used was a multimode type, with the loop consisting of 48 and 96 stranded fiber cable. The fiber optic loop is approximately 10 miles in length.

Initially, the fiber optic system was utilized by the electric department for relaying and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) communications. SSOE then designed a governmental and educational wireless Wide Area Network (WAN). The governmental WAN connects the department networks and provides data and voice communications between various city buildings and offices. The educational WAN provides data, voice, and video communications for the city’s public and private school systems.

The backbone system can be used in the future for cable TV, telephone, and internet services.

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A leader in cancer treatment technology, Slidell Memorial Hospital needed a comprehensive cancer center that consolidated all of their existing treatment options resulting in a new, three-floor building on the hospital campus. The development of this facility also allowed for expanded services increasing the number of patients Slidell could care for.

SSOE provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection, as well as data, fire, and security to this facility in support of AE Design’s architectural services, with whom they have worked on multiple cancer centers. The familiarity of this teaming produced a beautiful, esteemed facility with design features that were showcased in Healthcare Design’s annual project showcase edition, all while meeting schedule and budgetary demands.

This new cancer center houses radiation treatment areas, including multiple linear accelerator vaults requiring a process fluid cooler and chilled water systems that must be fault tolerant, highly reliable, and incorporate the appropriate radiation shielding. These vaults include one new Varian high-energy clinical linear accelerator, relocation of a unit from the existing facility, a brachytherapy vault, a CT simulator suite, on-site mobile PET scanner accommodations, and site and foundation components for a future linear accelerator vault. Other features of this facility include a USP-797 compliant pharmaceutical compounding site with specialty filtration and air controls. SSOE also completed the data backbone for communications, including the nurse call system, fire alarms, and overhead paging.

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Saved the client $26,000 through cost effective practices such as using aluminum conductors instead of copper conductors and reducing the quantity of clean agent tanks.

Boeing was contracted to deliver an end-to-end satellite communications system that included two new ground monitoring stations. Each station consisted of a highly technical control room and server rooms. Boeing called upon SSOE to provide mechanical, electrical, and fire protection engineering services for the rooms.

SSOE’s responsibilities included design of the facilities’ Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, back-up generators, HVAC systems, and fire protection systems. SSOE used a clean agent suppression system as part of the fire protection that would not harm the sensitive equipment. Additionally, because both facilities are located in extremely hot and dry environments, special considerations were made for the HVAC systems. Seismic considerations were also incorporated into the design for the Mexico City facility.

SSOE designed the stations in accordance with International Building Code and worked closely with the end- user’s construction manager and architect in Mexico.

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The expandability of the Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) systems will save the client money and the trouble of replacing the entire system.

As a result of a major utility power failure, due to a lightning strike, the main data center for a large regional healthcare system lost all normal and emergency back-up power. This failure affected all operations in every related facility within the organization. The failure also caused damage to the UPS system. SSOE was on-site late that evening and through the weekend, assisting in returning power to the critical systems. During the course of the evening, the emergency generator also failed, requiring the rental of a large trailer-mounted diesel generator.

It was determined that the existing data center lacked the emergency back-up systems required to continue seamless operations in the event of a prolonged outage. The result was approximately a $5 million expansion and renovation project which included a new addition to house the equipment and the installation of redundant services, two emergency generators with paralleling switchgear, and two additional UPS systems.

SSOE’s Data / Fire / Security (DFS) group ensured proper grounding of the existing IT equipment, along with the new UPS, and generator systems. The new UPS systems were sized to fit the client’s current needs and can easily be expanded as the IT load increases. The UPS system and generators are monitored through the client’s network and communicates when there is any trouble conditions within the entire emergency backup power system.

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SSOE suggested the use of steel eccentrically braced frames in lieu of ordinary steel moment frames on a new building in a seismic zone saving the client $80,000.

A long-term client enlisted SSOE to design a laminator addition that would enable them to manufacture a new shingle product. This involved reconfiguring the shingle manufacturing process and designing a building to house the new equipment.

The strategy included two major phases: Phase 1 included relocation of the existing packaging system equipment to make room for the new laminator. Phase 2 included the installation of the new laminator and auxiliary systems. SSOE engineered and designed extensive controls to handle process changes to the granule, asphalt, and new laminator system.

The expansion also involved joining a manufacturing facility on one property to an adjacent warehouse facility that was owned separately. Electrical service had to be fed separately to the two adjacent sites and underground piping for a fire main rerouted. SSOE provided architectural, structural, electrical and process controls design, and upgraded the alarm system and fire protection for the expanded facility. The team assisted the client with attaining permits and installation and commissioning of equipment.

SSOE fast-tracked the project in order to meet the client’s schedule for plant start-up and manufacture of the new product.

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SSOE provided comprehensive electrical engineering consulting and design services to GE Intelligent Platforms, a business unit of GE Energy Management. Over the course of a year, SSOE addressed electrical needs for an existing 45,000 SF building and a new 20,000 SF addition to GE’s Huntsville, Alabama, campus.

A key location for GE Intelligent Platforms, the Huntsville campus manufactures an array of high-technology products serving defense and aerospace, medical, semiconductor, industrial, and communications customers.

In the first phase of this project, SSOE performed a detailed site survey to determine costs for construction of the addition and evaluated the existing building for compliance with current codes. SSOE then conducted feasibility and code studies and provided electrical system design criteria and alternatives.

Once the design was finalized, SSOE provided construction administration services for the electrical portion of the project, including shop drawings and submittal review. SSOE also helped the client update electrical plans for the 613 SF Shaker and Control Room and relocate the thermal chambers in the manufacturing area.

Additional work included power and circuiting for the 940 SF single-story storage area addition, modifications to exterior site lighting (metal halide fixtures changed to LED fixtures), and electrical design for revisions to a 10,000 SF second floor in the building.

During the course of the project, the Owner presented a number of revised requirements that demanded quick design modifications. SSOE rapidly incorporated all changes and successfully met an expedited timeline associated with the relocation of GE’s Albuquerque, New Mexico plant operations to Huntsville.

After successful project completion, GE sought SSOE’s assistance in sourcing support during an emergency equipment failure.

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SSOE identified more than $3 million in cost savings for this project, which represents more than half of its total fee.

American Snuff, LLC called upon SSOE to provide a project solution for their new tobacco product manufacturing, warehousing, and packaging facility in Memphis, Tennessee. As part of the conceptual design effort, SSOE accompanied American Snuff on walkthroughs of several vacant buildings being considered for the new plant. Based on our observations, SSOE recommended building what would best meet American Snuff’s needs and budget.

SSOE developed and implemented a plan to renovate and reconfigure an existing distribution center to a food grade production and packaging facility and satisfy new FDA regulations for the tobacco industry. The renovation also created spaces for various staff offices, maintenance areas, a developmental lab, a pilot plant, and a new entrance / lobby. SSOE provided structural, civil, fire protection, construction management, project planning, procurement, cost control, HVAC, electrical, commissioning, monitoring and reporting, and scheduling services. A building management system, communications, security, and information technology systems were also part of the project scope.

Environmentally friendly practices were implemented including recycling 60,000 cubic feet of concrete and 50 tons of steel, reuse of excavated soil for backfill, and implementation of LEED® certification prerequisites. Modifications to the building added daylighting and use of energy efficient materials.

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SSOE led the value engineering effort for this facility, developing more than $17 million in savings opportunities, resulting in more than $11 million in total incorporated changes.

In an effort to expand their market into the United States, a European tire manufacturer looked to SSOE to provide site evaluation, risk assessment, architectural and engineering services, and construction management for their 875,000 SF greenfield tire manufacturing plant. The scope included pursuing a viable site as well as providing assistance with environmental permitting requirements, including air permitting data. The facility will have the capacity to manufacture up to 4.65 million passenger / light truck tires per year within the first construction phase. The master plan for the greenfield site will accommodate up to 2 million commercial vehicle truck tires manufactured per year.

The plant features just over 100,000 SF of office, 600,000 SF of production, and 130,000 SF of warehouse space to support their projected 800 employees. Each area is unique to the intended user group and includes precast concrete, cast in place concrete, and structural steel framing systems. The process utilities are complex and range from multiple cold and hot water systems, natural gas use, compressed air demands, and high-pressure steam. SSOE provided electrical, power and lighting, data, fire and security, as well as an appropriate architectural statement for the Owner’s first major expansion in the United States.

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The Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children is a new, 12-story, replacement hospital with a central energy plant. This project is the largest medical facility expansion in the history of the state of Alabama. It is located directly north of the current facility and is bridged to the existing facilities.

The new facility accommodates projected growth in patient volume, anticipated medical technology needs, planned consolidation of pediatric services, and features a family centered design that enhances comfort for patients and families. The hospital houses 332 beds, plus 48 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) bassinets. The new hospital includes larger rooms, a larger emergency department, and two additional general operating rooms. Additionally, two cardiac operating rooms dedicated to pediatric cardiovascular surgery have been relocated to this facility. The new hospital is expected to become LEED® certified, and will become Alabama’s first LEED certified hospital building.

The design features stunning views, including two roofs with native plants. Facing due north, it makes the most of natural lighting, while ensuring the sun never hits the windows on the broad side of the building. Other green features include a coated roof that reduces heat gain from the sun and a central plant that collects 30,000 gallons of water daily from air conditioning vents for other uses, such as irrigation for green spaces.

SSOE served as the associate electrical and data / fire / security (DFS) engineering firm for this project, provided peer design review, provided construction-period services, and designed the fire alarm systems for the entire facility. Some of the systems incorporated are the systems on the connector bridges to the four existing buildings adjacent to the new structure, as well as systems for the new stair tower at the existing hospital.

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75% of the existing building envelope and 50% of interior, non-structural elements were maintained saving the client construction costs.

Savage Arena, located in the heart of the University of Toledo’s main campus, was renovated and expanded to transform the arena into a state-of-the-art facility for student athletes and fans.

The 163,000 SF facility features numerous amenities for student athletes and fans, including a new entry pavilion; the Wall of Champions and Hall of Fame; improved locker, weight, and training room facilities; specialty seating, including 12 suites, 17 loges, and 194 club seats; 13 concession areas with 34 points of sale; and a pro shop selling Rocket apparel.

Keeping with the university’s mission to be a leader in sustainability, the facility is LEED® Gold certified. Other efforts to minimize environmental impact included reducing water consumption by 20% through the use of landscaping materials that require little to no irrigation, installing low-flush toilets, and using certified wood and recycled content materials throughout the facility. Meticulous construction management allowed for more than 50% of construction waste to be diverted or recycled.

This renovation also included the transformation of the existing Savage Arena lower level from racquetball courts to a steam generating facility for the entire campus, requiring installation of a 90-foot tall stack in a 25-foot deep areaway.

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Rightsizing the overall square footage of the building, plus a lean delivery method, resulted in savings of approximately $900,000 in contingencies.

SSOE was selected to assist Bowling Green State University and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office / Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for the design of a new 28,330 SF structure to house BCI’s regional offices, operations, and criminal labs in Northwest Ohio.

Included in the scope of the project was the design of administration and investigation offices, firing range, forensic labs, evidence storage space, public access seminar and conference rooms, security and surveillance, A/V design, redundant electrical and HVAC systems, site amenities, and parking. MWL Design Group teamed with SSOE for this project, providing the forensic design expertise essential for BCI operations and activities.

SSOE was able to provide all design services in-house, with a single point of contact for the client. Services provided include: architectural, interior design, structural, landscape architecture, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design. Additionally, SSOE provided specialty design services that included: access control, IT / technology, A/V, and security. Lean project delivery principles were also utilized throughout the process, including collaboration with the construction manager from the onset of the project. The project was completed on schedule, below budget, and earned LEED® Silver Certification.

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Owens Community College selected SSOE to perform design and construction administration new Culinary Arts Center, located at the Toledo-area campus. SSOE scope of services included engineering, interior design, security / access control, and IT / technology design services. SSOE worked closely with Owens’ administration to meet an expedited design and construction schedule. Design was completed using a 100% BIM platform, with 3D sections and details used throughout the design process to aid shareholders in envisioning and understanding the design intent and layout of the space.

The project included the renovation of an existing, 14,000 SF vacant space. The new Culinary Center offers three unique laboratories – Culinary Skills, Restaurant Skills, and Food Science and Baking. The Culinary Skills Laboratory incorporates the latest cooking equipment and devices, allowing students to practice technical skills. The Restaurant Skills Laboratory simulates what students would find in the industry, including a beverage wait station and expediting cooking stations. The Food Science and Baking Laboratory is equipped with heat and humidity controls to allow students to learn advanced pastry skills. In addition the space also hosts a large dining area for holding lunches and special events, providing students with real-world experience in creating menus, preparing and plating food, and serving. A demonstration station, complete with cameras and television screens and a new outdoor gathering area were also added to provide additional functionality for special events.

Renovations to the center included state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrades, such as new access-control door hardware and additional security and monitoring equipment.

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On April 16, 2013, a Silicon Valley power substation was attacked by a sniper. Shots were fired into the radiators and conservators of 17 transformers, causing the equipment to leak 52,000 gallons of oil, disabling the yard and interrupting service to customers. Prior to this attack, communication lines were deliberately severed near the site to delay local law enforcement’s response time. As a result, $15.4 million in damages were reported by the utility company, with 27 days spent repairing the substation to bring it back online.

In light of this attack, critical utility service providers are now compelled by the Utility Commission, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reduce the vulnerability of critical sites through the enactment of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standard 014 (CIP-014). To comply with these guidelines, a large electrical utility provider partnered with SSOE and a well known security equipment supplier to design and implement site hardening strategies at its Tier 1 critical sites.

An overall programmatic approach was established, including the definition of hardening objectives, identification of site threats and vulnerabilities, development of recommendations for hardening protocols, and identification of technology sources. SSOE provided project management and engineer of record services for plan implementation by creating detailed design packages with coordinated designs from civil, structural, electrical, and data / fire / security disciplines.

In compliance with safety protocols, SSOE worked with the client’s transmission group in providing all engineering and construction support for the implementation of the following security measures:

  • Electronic access control systems
  • Complete video surveillance
  • Multiple layers of perimeter intrusion detection
  • Anti-climb and anti-cut perimeter fencing
  • Vehicle rated barriers, ditches, bollards, and gates
  • Landscape modifications for visual block
  • Intrusion detection system triggered alarm based lighting
  • Ballistic protection and detection around major assets
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SSOE applied significant value engineering to the preliminary schematic project design. Through design innovations, utilization of specialists in blast resistant design, and other ideas, Husky realized more than $7 million in savings.

In an effort to improve safety and communication at their Lima Refinery, Husky embarked on a plan to relocate all non-essential personnel away from blast risk zones to a centralized location outside the battery limits of the production facility. They called upon SSOE’s extensive refinery expertise and familiarity with blast resistant structures to design their new control building. SSOE provided full architecture and engineering for the 250,000 SF, two-story structure, which consists of a central control room, laboratory, warehouse, maintenance shops, vehicle repair center, and unit personnel housing.

Due to it’s proximity to plant production operations, the facility was designed to resist a substantial blast over-pressure while maintaining an open and architecturally appealing structure. SSOE collaborated with the owner, specialized design consultants, constructors, and material systems providers to provide a functioning structure that is fully code compliant, protects its occupants from hazards, and allows for the operation and controlled shutdown of systems should an event occur. This collaboration and the application of specific design techniques resulted in a $3 million reduction in the cost of the structural frame alone.

As part of the project, SSOE customized the fire alarm, access control, data cabling, and raceway systems including the specialized protection needs of potentially hazardous operations. SSOE’s Data, Fire, and Security (DFS) team also designed an electronically secure enclosed area featuring anti-passback technology within the access control system.

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This prominently sited, five-story structure ties the University of South Carolina (USC) traditional campus to its new urban “innovista” research campus. The facility supports programs in engineering, technology, scientific research, and industrial development of alternative energy sources.

Research includes two floors dedicated to hydrogen fuel cell studies with laboratory areas for Proton Enhanced Membrane (PEM) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). The first floor is dedicated to characterization chemistry and the second floor has a program in nanopolymers. The ground and fourth floors are set aside for future development.

Each laboratory utilizes high performance variable air volume fume hoods with air flow control based on sash position. Fuel cell research laboratories have centrally piped hydrogen and nitrogen gases and also house cylinders for hydrogen rich specialty reformate gases. All laboratory process equipment utilizes a recirculating cooling system to reduce portable water usage.

SSOE was involved in the planning and programming efforts and provided mechanical, electrical and fire protection construction documents for this building. Review of the contractor’s shop drawings, was performed to detect errors and omissions which were found and corrected prior to the fire marshal’s review. The fire alarm design was upgraded to meet code. This allowed passing of the drawings by the jurisdiction on the first review. Life cycle analysis and careful evaluation of alternative energy usage systems were important to the sustainable aspects of this building. The construction was fast-track accomplished by utilizing Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) method.

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Through innovative design concepts, benchmarking common practices, and scheduling, SSOE offered Volkswagen a savings of more than $44 million.

Having successfully performed design work for more than 50% of all greenfield automotive assembly plants built in the United States over the last 10 years, SSOE was well qualified to oversee architecture, engineering, and construction management services for Volkswagen’s new automotive production facility.

Volkswagen was also looking for a firm with a strong sustainability focus who would help the company execute its green initiatives.

Located on an 830-acre brownfield site, the production facility includes conventional steel framed buildings with concrete columns, roof structures with skylights, metal wall panels with windows, and a single-ply membrane roof. The plant has the capacity to produce 150,000 mid-sized vehicles annually. The primary manufacturing operations include weld, paint, and assembly. Other facilities on this site include outbound logistics, an extensive training center, media (utility) center, social hall with cafeteria, technical center, tank farm, recycling center, and fire station. SSOE provided environmental permitting, civil, architectural, structural, mechanical, fire protection, plumbing, electrical, fire alarm, access control, and security system design as well as construction management. SSOE’s expertise led to the first and only LEED® Platinum automotive assembly plant in the world. SSOE assisted with the preparation, submittal, and multiple agency approvals of the air permit in record time—2 weeks ahead of an aggressive 3-month schedule.

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New County Complex

SSOE worked with Horry County to create a new judicial and administration complex that features 11 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, jury rooms, numerous administration offices, and spacious public areas.

Creating Two Distinct Wings

By dividing the complex into two distinct wings – a two-story county government facility and three-story judicial center – our design team created a central sky lighted atrium and main lobby that served as the building’s front door and main connector to each wing.

Matching The Historical Fabric

On the judicial side, a clear delineation is established between the public accessible spaces and the secured jury rooms and judges’ chambers. Brick was selected to help blend the new complex into the historical context of the area. Additionally, traditional design elements were used to scale down the massing of the complex.

A Note From Gary Watson, Horry County Construction & Maintenance 

“Our new courthouse is beautiful and operates very efficiently – both from a systems standpoint and for the procedures of the courtroom. SSOE studied and produced an excellent security system for the building.”

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