Columbia UniversityCEPSR Building Air Handling Unit Upgrades

The Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research (CEPSR) is a prominent research facility situated within the Columbia Morningside Campus. Constructed in 1991, CEPSR was equipped with state-of-the-art HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technology for its era.

CEPSR's fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth floors are dedicated to housing offices, as well as engineering and physics laboratories. Notably, the tenth floor is home to a Clean Room utilized by researchers from various disciplines. Additionally, the lower floors and the cellar of the building accommodate the campus's high-pressure steam plant.

Columbia University enlisted the services of DM Engineers to spearhead a significant upgrade project focusing on Air Handling Units (AHUs) 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 within the CEPSR building. The scope of work for this project was extensive and included a wide range of improvements. Key elements of the upgrade encompassed the replacement of chilled water and glycol recovery loops, steam pipe trims, coils, dampers/actuators, and the transition from pneumatic to Direct Digital Controls (DDC) for HVAC system control. The project also involved the installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and repairs to the AHU casings located in the penthouse machine room.

One notable achievement of this project was the management of a total volumetric flow exceeding 200,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM), which served the upper floors of the building. This complex task was executed meticulously and was fully balanced upon project completion. Furthermore, the construction process was carefully phased to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the CEPSR building, underscoring DM Engineers' dedication to maintaining the facility's functionality throughout the upgrade.