Community & Cultural

Client/Owner: FORM Architects

Location: Washington, DC

Contact: Lew Brode, PE, LEED AP

Description: GPI provided engineering consulting services for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems in an existing, shell-condition, standalone 2-story building. There were no existing engineering systems within the structure. GPI’s scope included design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for the “warm/dark shell” space including main RTU mechanical units and all distributing ductwork systems, all new bathrooms, electrical and lighting distribution, and fire life safety. The client desired a fun space for children and adults. The completed space includes multiple play areas for children and gathering and seating areas for adults. There is a café kitchen on the Main Level with a deli, coffee bar, beer and wine stations, and baking area. The second floor includes a pantry/coffee station with sink, disposal, and fridge. There are multiple bathrooms, drinking fountains, and water bottle fillers. The building is LEED Core and Shell Certified. The project received a NAIOP DC|MD Award of Excellence for Best Retail Project.

Category: Community & Cultural

Client/Owner: Lackawanna County

Location: Scranton, PA

Contact: Stephen Daiute, PE, LEED AP

Description: GPI provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil, and structural engineering services for the renovation to a 250,000 sq ft historic building. The renovation included the consolidation of all of Lackawanna County Administration Services into one building. The project included a new stair tower within the footprint of the building, a backup 911 center, and data center. GPI incorporated new HVAC units into the existing mechanical system to meet the County’s financial budget and also designed all new LED lighting and a security system for the building. The project was completed on schedule to meet the County’s time restraints with prior leases.

Category: Community & Cultural

Client/Owner: Afrim Nezaji

Location: Albany, NY

Contact: John Rizzo, MBA, PE

Description: GPI provided structural, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering services for a new two-story building which serves as a new corporate headquarters as well as support for the inflated sports dome. The first floor of the building serves as a sports center, lounge, and snack bar and includes a restaurant including a commercial kitchen with pizza oven, two-sided fireplace, a pro-shop, shower facilities, and office spaces. There are operable overhead doors that create an open-air atmosphere. The second floor serves as the corporate space complete with offices, a lounge with gas fired fireplace, staff locker rooms, and bathrooms. The building’s framing system consisted of steel columns and beams, engineered lumber, stick framing, pre-engineered wood trusses, reinforced concrete foundation and slab-on-grade. The roof and wall framing of the building was designed to support the increased weight of snowpack sliding off the inflated dome structure.

Category: Community & Cultural

Client/Owner: Albany County

Location: Albany, NY

Contact: Curtis Benedetto, Jr, PE

Description: GPI provided design services for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for Albany County and their renovations to the Times Union Center. The project consisted of a complete redesign of the front atrium, the south facade, and the northeast corner of the Times Union Center to elevate the usefulness, improve curb appeal and create a space that will enhance the experience of both patrons and the general public attending events in and around the arena. The project was phased to allow the facility to remain open and operational during the construction phase.

Category: Community & Cultural

Client/Owner: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Location: Delmar, NY

Contact: Daniel Hampson, PE

Description: GPI provided design services for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for a new educational center at Five Rivers. The facility is an environmental and natural history learning center extending over 350 acres, operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The new building incorporates green roofs, LED lighting, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic arrays, as well as rainwater harvesting, natural ventilation, light shelf elements and a geothermal heat pump system. The building is like a "working lab" to support key educational themes, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation and teaching by example in the building design. Due to the expanded building size, fire protection was needed, but available pressure from the municipal system was inadequate therefore the rainwater collection/storage system and a new emergency generator and fire pump provide the appropriate water supply and pressure. *LEED Platinum

Category: Community & Cultural

Client/Owner: Harvey-Cleary Builders

Location: Great Falls, VA

Contact: Rocky Styer, PE

Description: GPI provided design services for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and structural engineering design for an 18,700 sq ft facility which is one of the largest fire stations in Fairfax County. The station’s architecture looks more rural than most modern fire stations and includes a 48-foot-tall hose-drying tower that provides both drying space for the hoses and training space for the firefighters. Twenty-four professional firefighters are assigned to the station and six bunk rooms are available for crew members. The station has conference and training rooms, multiple storage spaces, a decontamination room, repair shop, recreation area and a large kitchen with a low island accessible by the disabled. The station makes effective use of natural light and has many environmentally friendly features, including floor tiles made with recycled glass, heat-reflecting concrete parking areas and waterless urinals. Three sections of the station’s roof are “green roofs” covered with water-absorbing vegetation, including grasses and lichens. The station’s four-bay apparatus area with front and rear doors allows most vehicles to drive through. The apparatus bay’s front doors fold inward on hinges instead of being hauled up on rails overhead allowing the doors to open and shut automatically in mere seconds. *LEED Gold

Category: Community & Cultural