San Jose State University converted the main floor of a campus parking garage to a new Student Services Center.   Our challenge was to provide an HVAC system that would accommodate the building’s sloping, uneven floors and post-tensioned slab structure without permanent alteration to the parking garage floor. Our solution was an innovative underfloor distribution system for mechanical and electrical systems, which is more cost-effective, energy-efficient, and flexible than a conventional  system.   Another challenge was the university’s aggressive 10-month schedule,  from programming through occupancy, which the design team met.   Ambient Air quality monitoring was performed to assist in locating outdoor air intakes for optium indoor air quality. Our underfloor system, along with other energy measures, helped the building exceed the California 1998 energy code by 20 percent.

2003 ASHRAE Technology Awardlearn more