Government Project Sample

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
1301 New York Avenue
Washington, DC

This project was a fast-track complete renovation of a 12-story office building occupied by the Department of Justice. Contracted by HITT Contracting and Boston Properties, Shapiro & Duncan provided a complete change-out of the penthouse mechanical system and installed 440 console heat pump units and 22 self-contained water-cooled units with waterside economizers on the tenant floors within the 120-day schedule.

The primary challenge was the limited mechanical space of only 1,700 SF to house the two plate-frame type heat exchangers, two 75 HP and three 100 HP condenser water horizontal split-case pumps, and one 5,000 MBH natural gas firetube boiler with end-suction injection pump. Only seven feet above this space, HITT installed a steel grated mezzanine area to support the four 20-ton, water-cooled, self-contained units with factory water side economizers, two 15-ton units with remote water side economizers, one 7 ½-ton unit, and one 50-ton unit for outside air. Taking the TOLK design, our crew installed the described equipment along with 12-inch, 10-inch, and smaller piping and the connecting supply, return, and outside air ductwork within the limited space allotted.

The second challenge was the rigging of two vertical self-contained, water-cooled units on the fourth through ninth floors. These units had to be rigged from the 13th Street side of the building so the crane could not set-up until 10:00 am and had to be finished by 2:30 pm to accommodate downtown rush hour traffic. The only possible access to the floors was a balcony with a brick knee-wall high enough to keep the units from being rigged in the vertical position, so the 3000-pound units had to be laid "flat." An iron rail and sliding glass door had to be removed and a custom-designed "ramp" built to allow the unit to be slid into the space and then manhandled to an upright position before being moved into the mechanical room.

The project was completed on time and within budget.

In a "Letter of Commendation," Boston Properties recognized the Shapiro & Duncan's Project Manager for his workmanship and leadership in accomplishing a very difficult task with a tight schedule.