West Coast University purchased their redeveloped, 136,000-square-foot building in Richardson, TX with the intent of making WCU Texas their flagship campus and perform substantial core & shell upgrades and full tenant improvements to create state-of-the-art administrative areas, classrooms, labs, Café, student collaboration and study areas, and master program suites. HRNCIR Construction was brought on board early in the process to work with Gensler and Schmidt & Stacy Consulting engineers to bring this vision into reality. After an extensive due diligence period, it was determined by the engineers and WCU that the majority of the HVAC systems in the building needed to be replaced during renovations, including the supply and return shafts, the fans, cooling coils in the air handlers, chilled water piping, ductwork, fan powered boxes VAV’s for all three floors; however, the existing roof top chillers seemed to be in good condition and replacement was not warranted. A few months into the core, shell, and site renovations, the entire North Texas area was hit by a severe and prolonged winter storm in February 2021. Due to the loss of power, the heat trace tape on the water and return lines of the chillers failed, preventing the circulation of the water in the system, and ultimately freezing, causing extensive damage to the chillers that resulted in leaking water and freon from the compressors. Following the Owner’s insurance company assessment and filed claim, HRNCIR and our mechanical subcontractor presented several manufacturers and replacement options to ownership detailing various considerations such as product delivery timelines, cost, and size and weight of units so as minimize modifications to structural supports at the roof. Ownership ultimately opted to go with new TRANE chiller units for which we were originally quoted a six-month lead time. With interior finishes scheduled to start in early Spring 2021, it was imperative that we begin conditioning the building and locate temporary chillers. Together with the owner’s project manager, our mechanical subcontractor and coordination with City of Richardson, we determined a suitable location in the parking lot to set the temporary chillers, outside of the fire lanes, and created a trench to submerge the temporary lines across the fire lane and up the side of the building to the roof. By April 2021, we had the temporary chillers set and tied in so that the building could be conditioned, and interior finishes could proceed. Knowing the growing supply chain issues that would only get worse because of wide-spread damage caused by the winter storm and COVID, we formulated a contingency plan in the event the new chillers arrived after the promised 6-month time frame. Tie-ins to the condenser were engineered so that when the new chillers arrived, the temporary lines could be easily removed, and the new chiller lines and electrical connections could immediately be tied into the new fittings. As suspected, the ship date for the replacement chillers pushed well beyond our August 28, 2021 completion date; however, the tenant improvements were completed on time. Temporary screening was erected around the temporary chillers and WCU was able to move in and begin conducting classes on September 1, 2021 as scheduled. When the new chillers arrived, and because of thorough contingency planning, exact measurements and prefabrication of the lines, piping and electrical connections, the installation and connections of the new chillers was accomplished over a three-day weekend. Through communication and coordination with WCU leadership, temporary arrangements were made to conduct classes in the core of the building served by roof top units and other critical areas of the building were served by temporary spot coolers so that there were no lost days for students or faculty during this three-day change-over period. Within two weeks of the new chillers being installed, the temporary fencing and chillers were removed, the fire lanes were poured back, and stripping and landscape repairs were completed. Detailed and accurate cost documentation and reporting by HRNCIR allowed the owner to fully recoup all costs associated with the insurance claim.
