GPI, as a subconsultant to ENVISION Architects, provided MEP/FP Engineering for the new Visitor Center at the facility in Delmar, NY. Five Rivers is an environmental and natural history learning center extending 350+ acres, operated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Recently completed as a Guided School Program building, which enveloped an existing men’s and women’s room facility, the new building incorporated LED lighting, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic arrays, as well as green infrastructure features, such as green roofs and rainwater harvesting, natural ventilation, light shelf elements and a geothermal heat pump system. This was completed as a second phase, and including the previous green concepts, is a new Visitors Center building expanding on the GSP building, which supports the key educational themes, emphasizes the importance of environmental conservation and teaches by example in the building design. The facility was certified as LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council.

GPI provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering design to meet the prerequisites and achieve the credits necessary to attain LEED Gold certification. Sands Capital Management occupies 78,000 sq ft on four floors of the building. Floors 28, 29, & 30 have an interconnecting stair and include typical perimeter offices and interior workstations. The 31st floor includes a conference center, theater, additional restrooms, and shower facilities.

GPI provided engineering design services for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for the American Forest & Paper Association, which occupies 29,000 sq ft. Two suites were connected to share lounge/pantry, mail center, and copy room functions. The space design included closed offices, open workstations, large divisible conference rooms, AV room, and server room. GPI designed supplemental A/C systems for the server room and conference room, and an FM-200 fire suppression system for the server room. Services included providing design documentation, commissioning, and performing an energy model to obtain the energy star target finder for Green Globes certification. This project was awarded three Green Globes, in addition to other design merit awards.

The new 10,000 sq ft Environmental Education Center includes offices, reception areas, conference rooms, a resource library, restrooms, and support spaces. The building has received LEED Silver certification with the United States Green Building Council. Sustainable concepts integrated into the project include rain water collection, green roofs, photovoltaic power systems, geothermal heating/cooling system, natural ventilation, daylighting, and stormwater site infiltration concepts such as rain gardens and bio-retention swales.

GPI provided mechanical, engineering, plumbing, and fire protection (MEP/FP) design services in the development of studio space in an existing facility at the Marywood University School of Architecture. The space is approximately 30,000 sq ft. The project included sustainable strategies that contributed to the LEED certification, such as a green roof, daylight harvesting, rainwater harvesting, and radiant cooling.