CHAPTER 19
ARCHITECTURAL ACCOMMODATION AND COORDINATION OF
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
OVERVIEW
Preceding chapters covered the technical aspects of individual mechanical, electrical systems and
equipment, and acoustical engineering for buildings. This chapter concentrates on integrating all
of these systems into buildings through proper planning, space allocation, and location of
equipment and services.
These materials are new, added with the 4th edition. Placing them as the last chapter is
intentional. The reader is presumed to have a basic understanding of the individual systems and
technologies discussed in Chapter 19. It is at once a checklist of ideas, a “how-to,” and a lessons
learned for integrated design and design review.
Topics were selected by the author on the basis of 35+ years of experience in construction for
their potential to become problematic if not addressed and resolved early in the design. The
materials attempt to represent the interests of owners, designers, contractors, and building users
on issues that affect space, space planning, form, appearance, cost, and utility of buildings. As
such, many of the issues raised in Chapter 19 will be experienced in future practice by students
currently in the classroom.
Exercises are intended to simulate “real world” situations that a designer or building owner will
face in the industry. As such, some of the questions are open ended and the answer will depend
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CHAPTER 19
ARCHITECTURAL ACCOMMODATION AND COORDINATION OF
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
19.1. Recommend location of air-handling equipment for the following design situations.
State your reasons briefly.
Lowrise office building, inland Florida—Use rooftop units. They are most economical and
avoid cost of space for mechanical room. Weather is relatively mild year round and outdoor
19.2. Design an electrical closet in plan to house two 120/208 volt receptacle power panels
19.3. Prepare a decision matrix to evaluate exposed services vs. lay-in tile plenum ceiling
for a laboratory building. Identify criteria you feel are relevant, weight them from the
viewpoint of the owner who uses and operates the building.
Evaluation matrix by Owner: Exposed services Lay-in ceiling
Criteria Weight Score Weighted Score Weighted
Inspection of infrastructure 5 10 50 15
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Total scores 168 125
19.4. Describe the difference in space requirements between a chilled water, hot water
system with central air handling and a system with chilled water, central air handling, and
electric heat.
19.5. A new low-rise campus on a sprawling “green field” rural site requires full standby
power capability. What options, pros and cons, would you present for locating the
generators? What options, pros and cons, would you present for a highrise in a congested
urban site?
19.6. Your client is an investment developer with high profit expectation. What method of
on floor electrical distribution will he likely favor to minimize his initial investment in
construction for a rental office building? What would his choice be if he were hired to
construct a building for a successful information technology company with considerable
churn rate?
19.7. What are the pros and cons of power poles as a wiring solution for a new corporate
highrise office building with a high churn rate? What other solutions might be more
appropriate? State reasons.
19.8. You are designing a total renovation (new M/E, finishes) of an existing low rise
building with low floor-to-floor height. The project has limited budget and will be
occupied by tenants seeking inexpensive office space. Occupancy will be in phases as space
is leased. What HVAC solutions would you consider? Why?
19.9. What wiring solutions might you consider for the building in the preceding question?
Since low budget is cited as a project constraint, power poles would be a good choice.
19.10. A highrise is being planned. The initial massing concept takes the tower to the
building line all around. Where would you place chillers, boilers, and cooling towers?
Why? What problems can be anticipated with the location you suggest?
19.11. What electrical spaces would you anticipate needing in the highrise described in the
last question? Where would you place them?
19.12 What other systems and equipment will require significant space in the highrise of
Question 19.10?