ES was selected as the engineering firm for the VA Healthcare Center (HCC) in Charlotte, NC. The 6-story state-of-the-art medical office building provides a full array of healthcare services including: outpatient surgery, imaging (including MRI), dialysis, mental health, laboratory services, pharmacy services, dentistry, and eye care. Opened in 2016, the HCC is designed to serve 2,000 patients per day and is the first VA healthcare facility in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Upon completion, it was the largest HCC in the VA system, and it achieved a Silver rating under the US Green Building Council LEED for Healthcare Program. As part of the VA’s program for cultural transformation and commitment to providing patient-centered care, the primary care clinic design was based on the medical home model which the VA calls the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).

As part of the developer team, SES provided the Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Low-voltage, Security, Access Control, and Fire Protection Engineering services. Since the HCC did not replace an existing facility, the design phase presented some unique challenges associated with designing departments without specific personnel available to supply comment and input. The Design Team worked closely with the Contractors and the VA representatives to capture the appropriate scope and to maintain the established budget.

To provide heating, cooling, and emergency power utilities to the building, a central energy plant was designed and constructed on the site. Two (2) 600-ton water-cooled chillers were part of a variable, primary pumped chilled water system. Three (3) 6,000 MBH dual fuel boilers were part of a variable, primary pumped heating water system. Twelve (12) AHUs were designed as part of the system to feed the unique spaces and requirements throughout the building, including smaller units dedicated to the kitchen, pharmacy, and central plant. A 1250KVA diesel generator was part of a NFPA Level 1 emergency power supply system.

The healthcare center was designed with the surgery department on the top, 5th floor, and included a Prep Area, Recovery Area, and 4 Operating Room Suites, 1vCysto Operating Suite, 3 EKG procedure rooms, and 1 Bronchoscopy Procedure room.  One (1) AHU in the penthouse above served the Surgery and Procedure Rooms. The AHU used heating and chilled water coils to maintain a supply air temperature of 50-52 degrees aminar flow, HEPA filter supply diffusers were used in the Operating Suites. Damper control of the supply and return air flow was used to maintain required pressure differentials.

Services

Planning

Mechanical

Electrical

Plumbing

Fire Protection

Lighting

Building Size

80,000 SF

LEED

Silver