Granby Elementary School (LEED-Gold)

HEA designed the mechanical, plumbing and fire protection systems associated with major renovations to a 37,030-sf elementary school as well as the construction of a new 31,730-sf addition. The northern half of the project includes the renovated building, which contains classrooms and teaching spaces, a cafeteria and a kitchen. The southern half includes the entire addition, which contains administrative spaces, a gym and classrooms. 

The addition is ventilated by energy recovery ventilators, while the renovation is served by air handling units and dedicated outdoor units. Space cooling for most of the building is provided by the ERVs and AHUs. Air from the AHUs is distributed to zoned variable air volume (VAV) boxes and passed through diffusers into classrooms and other teaching spaces. Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems provide cooling to the spaces served by the dedicated outdoor air units.

Space heating is provided by radiant heat panels and fin-tube radiators, supplemented in select areas by re-heat coils in VAV boxes. The main glycol / hot water loop associated with this equipment is served by a new boiler plant consisting of two dual-fuel boilers and one LP-fired condensing boiler, each with a circulator pump and two variable speed distribution pumps. 

Domestic hot water is provided by two gas-fired 600 MBH condensing water heaters with peak efficiencies of 96%.  Low flow plumbing fixtures were specified throughout the building to achieve the project’s water use reduction targets.

The $34.2M project achieved LEED^TM-Gold status from the US Green Building Council.