OPTIMUM OPERATING FACILITY

PUBLIC ASSEMBLY

Whether your venue houses thousands of people for a rock concert, hosts major sporting events or provides a space for your congregation to worship, public assembly spaces present unique challenges for ventilation and life-safety requirements.  

Engineered Air Balance has performed testing in many of these facilities and has even performed testing that has redefined the way that the engineering community designs life-safety smoke control systems for these unique buildings.  

Our team understands the challenges present with the dynamic nature of the facility and the highly variable occupancy requirements. With integrity, quality, consistency and teamwork, we will work to deliver an optimum operating facility.  

Texas State University Events Center and Strahan Arena

Texas State University Events Center and Strahan ArenaTexas State University’s Strahan Coliseum underwent a substantial expansion from 2016-2018, resulting in the creation of the University Events Center and Strahan Arena. The expansion added 68,000 square feet of space, including the University Event Center, relocated the band practice field, updated locker rooms and coaches’ offices, added 1,800 seats to the arena, and incorporated training facilities. A chiller plant and a center-hung scoreboard were also installed. The expanded facility, now known as Strahan Arena at the University Events Center, serves as the central hub for Texas State Athletics. The project was completed in November 2018, costing $62.5 million and adding 81,300 gross square feet of space. EAB provided Total System Balancing for the HVAC systems.

The TAB (Test and Balance) scope of work involved several components in the Strahan Central Plant. This included the installation of new condenser water pumps, chillers, cooling towers, chilled water pumps, and FCUs (Fan Coil Units), along with the implementation of a refrigerant exhaust system. Additionally, 13 new AHUs (Air Handling Units) and exhaust systems were replaced and tested throughout the entire facility. Furthermore, four existing AHU systems were tested and verified. The project also encompassed the installation of new CHW (Chilled Water) and HW (Hot Water) tertiary pumps for the Events Center and the water balancing of the AHU coils.

EAB played a crucial role in the project’s success by providing scheduling input and supplying manpower as needed to meet the designated timelines. The project consisted of multiple phases, including extended blackout periods without power. Unique to this project, EAB conducted multiple mobilizations for phasing and after-hours testing. During the testing process, issues with the existing systems were identified and promptly communicated to the owner for necessary corrections. EAB’s comprehensive approach and specialized testing procedures ensured the project’s smooth execution and compliance with the scope of work.

At the end of the project, the Engineered Air Balance Team turned over an optimum operating system that will serve Texas State University’s growing student population for years to come.

Texas State University Events Center and Strahan ArenaTexas State University Events Center and Strahan Arena

Texas State University’s Strahan Coliseum underwent a substantial expansion from 2016-2018, resulting in the creation of the University Events Center and Strahan Arena. The expansion added 68,000 square feet of space, including the University Event Center, relocated the band practice field, updated locker rooms and coaches’ offices, added 1,800 seats to the arena, and incorporated training facilities. A chiller plant and a center-hung scoreboard were also installed. The expanded facility, now known as Strahan Arena at the University Events Center, serves as the central hub for Texas State Athletics. The project was completed in November 2018, costing $62.5 million and adding 81,300 gross square feet of space. EAB provided Total System Balancing for the HVAC systems.

The TAB (Test and Balance) scope of work involved several components in the Strahan Central Plant. This included the installation of new condenser water pumps, chillers, cooling towers, chilled water pumps, and FCUs (Fan Coil Units), along with the implementation of a refrigerant exhaust system. Additionally, 13 new AHUs (Air Handling Units) and exhaust systems were replaced and tested throughout the entire facility. Furthermore, four existing AHU systems were tested and verified. The project also encompassed the installation of new CHW (Chilled Water) and HW (Hot Water) tertiary pumps for the Events Center and the water balancing of the AHU coils.

EAB played a crucial role in the project’s success by providing scheduling input and supplying manpower as needed to meet the designated timelines. The project consisted of multiple phases, including extended blackout periods without power. Unique to this project, EAB conducted multiple mobilizations for phasing and after-hours testing. During the testing process, issues with the existing systems were identified and promptly communicated to the owner for necessary corrections. EAB’s comprehensive approach and specialized testing procedures ensured the project’s smooth execution and compliance with the scope of work.

At the end of the project, the Engineered Air Balance Team turned over an optimum operating system that will serve Texas State University’s growing student population for years to come.

Smoke Control at the Alamodome

Smoke Control at the Alamodome

The Alamodome is a multi-purpose entertainment stadium with 65,000 seats, expandable to 72,000 seats, in San Antonio, Texas. Its distinctive design features a 9-acre roof hanging from four 100-foot masts. The arena can be set in 24 different set-up possibilities and has two Olympic-sized, permanent ice rinks that meet professional standards for hockey, figure skating and speed skating.

In preparation of the Alamodome’s opening in May of 1993, EAB was hired because of our specifically trained and equipped team of experts.  In order to deliver an optimum operating facility, the temperature control system was tested while the facility was set up for football, basketball, hockey and concerts. EAB tested and balanced the HVAC systems, verified HVAC control point and sensor calibration and performed HVAC control sequence verification.

In addition to testing and balancing, EAB was exclusively requested for a special project to assess the smoke control system by building a fire, demonstrating to the fire marshal that in the event of an actual fire the occupants had sufficient time to exit before the smoke plume fell from the 170-foot-high ceiling to the seating area. EAB built a controlled 10-megawatt fire with an equal amount of smoke.  EAB led the project team, hired a smoke control consultant to assist with the implementation of the fire and smoke, and hired a research team to analyze the data trends by measuring the temperature of the rising smoke plume and the temperature spread across the roof.

Our beneficial findings were used by NFPA and the ASHRAE technical committee for smoke control system design to revise the mathematical models for all large-volume public assembly spaces, impacting the design of large smoke control systems for years to come. 

Smoke Control at the AlamodomeSmoke Control at the Alamodome

The Alamodome is a multi-purpose entertainment stadium with 65,000 seats, expandable to 72,000 seats, in San Antonio, Texas. Its distinctive design features a 9-acre roof hanging from four 100-foot masts. The arena can be set in 24 different set-up possibilities and has two Olympic-sized, permanent ice rinks that meet professional standards for hockey, figure skating and speed skating.

In preparation of the Alamodome’s opening in May of 1993, EAB was hired because of our specifically trained and equipped team of experts.  In order to deliver an optimum operating facility, the temperature control system was tested while the facility was set up for football, basketball, hockey and concerts. EAB tested and balanced the HVAC systems, verified HVAC control point and sensor calibration and performed HVAC control sequence verification.

In addition to testing and balancing, EAB was exclusively requested for a special project to assess the smoke control system by building a fire, demonstrating to the fire marshal that in the event of an actual fire the occupants had sufficient time to exit before the smoke plume fell from the 170-foot-high ceiling to the seating area. EAB built a controlled 10-megawatt fire with an equal amount of smoke.  EAB led the project team, hired a smoke control consultant to assist with the implementation of the fire and smoke, and hired a research team to analyze the data trends by measuring the temperature of the rising smoke plume and the temperature spread across the roof.

Our beneficial findings were used by NFPA and the ASHRAE technical committee for smoke control system design to revise the mathematical models for all large-volume public assembly spaces, impacting the design of large smoke control systems for years to come. 

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