University of Colorado at Boulder
Engineering Center Renovation, Phase II
Boulder, Colorado

The Colorado Branch of Guarantee Electrical Company (Guarantee) was engaged to install comprehensive electrical rough in providing electrical and communications distribution and connectivity (the latter encompassing complete fire-alarm, audio-visual and access control systems throughout) for the University of Colorado Engineering Center Renovation on the Boulder campus.  The project called for the phased renovation of three key departments supported by the Engineering Center (EC). These are the department of Environmental Sustainability (ECES), Civil Engineering (ECCE), Chemical Stores and Laboratories (ECSL), as well as the South Tower and wing of the Engineering Center (ECST).  

Given the substantial scale of the renovation, the project was phased by the architectural team to develop a comprehensive Building Assessment and Program that divided the renovation into two phases: the first, serving the East portion of the center, accommodated Civil Engineering and Chem Stores and Labs that required relatively light renovation. The second, took on Environmental Sustainability and the heavily trafficked South Tower whose redesigned classrooms, labs required a more intensive reconstruction, with replacement of key services and infrastructure. 

THE PROJECT
The original electrical service consisted of a combined service consisting of two 1600 Amp 480/277 Volt, 3-phase, 4-wire main-tie-main distribution center (MDC), serving both the Environmental Sustainability and the Civil Engineering wing of the Center. While the renovation plan called for the MDC to remain in place, those existing branch circuit panel boards serving the East ECES Wing were to be replaced and rewired, including all their branch feeders. The renovation called for new transformers throughout, fed via the MDC, to step down power equipment in the computer labs and chem labs.

OUR APPROACH
Throughout the project, Guarantee supplied the Engineering Center’s laboratories and lecture halls with a roughed in turnkey installation, whose specifications called for substantially detailed componentry designed to support intricate and exacting lab work. Implementation included single-point connections for lab fume hoods, as well as separately connected prewired lab benches tied to a control panel serving each of the lab spaces.  The upshot was that the Guarantee installation teams proceeded systematically through their project plan, moving from level to level and lab to lab, keeping to an aggressive schedule while respecting the exacting specifications of the electrical design.

OUR WORK
As the scope of work evolved, the Guarantee team maintained close communications with the General Contractor, Haselden Construction as well as with our mechanical and plumbing partners. Given the density of technologies involved and the complexity in general of university lab environments (with very different requirements for, Environmental Sciences as opposed to Chem Labs, or for Civil Engineering and Computer labs), it was important to maintain a highly collaborative approach to preconstruction planning and as well as the installations unfolded. Indeed, Addendum #2 of the design, added substantial additional equipment loads than originally called for in the scope of work, meant that distribution cabling and distances were subject to considerable ongoing review and revision so as to assure quality installations involving multiple technologies in close proximity.  All successfully, as it turned out. 

An additional feature of the scope of work entailed rough in for a range of mechanical equipment, including air handlers, heat recovery units, exhaust fans at a variety of power levels as well as variable frequency drives together with circuitry scaled to support the equipment.  

An all new teledata and communications network was installed consisting of a horizontal Cat 6 cabling for data and Cat 6A cabling for wireless outlets.  Additional backbone cabling was supplied between the main Telecom Room on the first floor and outlying Telecom Rooms supplied with one 24 strand OM3 multimode fiber cable and one 48 strand single mode fiber cable. Additional 100 pair Cat 3 was run between the two telecom spaces as well.

SUCCESS
Phase II of the University of Colorado’s Engineering Center renovation was completed on budget in under 24 months even as the design evolved and expanded in both scope and complexity. As such, the project serves as an excellent example of the approach Guarantee takes to supporting our client’s most technically demanding assignments—that is with diligence in contending with detail, including a willingness to customize solutions for the university’s technically sophisticated community of users, with thoroughness and a relentless spirit of collaboration. Moreover, the project was completed safely with zero lost time accidents or injuries.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• LED lighting was installed throughout the facility supported by an advanced vacancy sensing lighting control system serving the renovated classrooms, conference rooms and lab spaces; included was a separate relay and time clock that was installed to manage exterior lighting and building signage.
• The lighting design for the lab spaces provides 70 foot candles by way of under-cabinet fixtures, set some 36 inches above the lab benches.
• Among the features of the EC were its active learning classrooms, supported by presentation technology embedded in a modular presenter’s station located in each classroom and laboratory. A wireless gateway was provided to all spaces utilizing audio/video content with hardware based video matrix whose AV is stored within the instructor’s lectern, enabling users to deploy portable devices with screens and speakers tied back to a small equipment rack tethered to floor boxes in the space.
• The lab spaces use single-compartment, plug-mold raceways providing two circuits per lab bench area to accommodate lab equipment at the table as well as lighting.
• LED lighting was installed throughout the facility supported by an advanced vacancy sensing lighting control system serving the renovated classrooms, conference rooms and lab spaces; included was a separate relay and time clock that was installed to manage exterior lighting and building signage.
• The lighting design for the lab spaces provides 70 foot candles by way of under-cabinet fixtures, set some 36 inches above the lab benches.
• Among the features of the EC were its active learning classrooms, supported by presentation technology embedded in a modular presenter’s station located in each classroom and laboratory. A wireless gateway was provided to all spaces utilizing audio/video content with hardware based video matrix whose AV is stored within the instructor’s lectern, enabling users to deploy portable devices with screens and speakers tied back to a small equipment rack tethered to floor boxes in the space