Projects - Rice University Keck Hall Chemistry Building Renovation
Houston, Texas
The project involved the renovation of and addition to an existing classroom and teaching facility. The facility was approximately 84,000 square feet and three levels high with a basement, and contained teaching and research laboratories, classrooms and faculty office space for the department of chemistry.
The original facility was constructed in the 1920's, which meant that the older building MEP systems had to be completely replaced; however, given the historical nature of the building, the essence of the original facility had to be retained. Numerous exhaust fume hoods were located in the research areas. The exhaust system utilized a "header" system to collect the air in increasing quantities, and then discharged through the roof by exhaust fans located in the fourth floor mechanical room. The main exhaust system on the roof consisted of four large exhaust fans capable of exhausting 30,000 cubic feet per minute each at full capacity.
Energy efficiency was maximized with the use of variable air volume air conditioning systems, which tracked the air supplied with the air quantities exhausted by the fume hood fan system. The project scope also included stabilizing the east stair tower, a new front entry courtyard, a new loading dock and accessibility ramp, and road modifications and landscaping.