SRBR was contracted to conduct an on-site study to the headquarters of the Secret Service building located in Washington DC. The study was to determine and quantify numerous operational problems being experienced. The project started with a detailed and comprehensive site survey of the ceiling plenum installation to document all variances between the design and installation. The variances were documented and quantified in a report. An RFP prepared by SRBR and used for construction bidding. The total building square footage is 650,000 sq. ft. Regular meetings with the tenant and GSA were conducted to maintain the schedule and report on our findings. The project had a very short schedule due to the fact that it had to bid in the fourth quarter to maintain project funding.

SRBR was the mechanical and electrical engineers for the new design of the 7th floor of the headquarters. The project involved the demolition of the existing space and the design of new tenant layouts. Both the survey and construction of the space was accomplished with all surrounding areas being occupied. Along with the 7th floor, SRBR was also involved in providing solutions to special lighting requirements in various areas of the building.

The project involved writing a prospectus development study (PDS) for a new headquarters to be located in Washington, DC. SRBR conducted interviews with each group and agency that now fall under Homeland Security. After all interviews, we then surveyed each space to confirm needs and size of equipment and their requirements so we could proceed with the PDS. The PDS was completed with a series of charts and tables that indicate what is required for a new headquarters building. This will be used by GSA to secure a location for a new headquarters for this relatively new agency.

This project was the renovation of 16 courtrooms and associated support spaces throughout the courthouse. Mechanical design included modifications and additions to the existing VAV systems, and provision of new air-conditioning/humidification for audio-visual rooms. Electrical design included energy efficient lighting with a dimming system, power, fire alarm, security (with CCTV cameras), audio-visual systems, and telecommunications. The courtroom construction was phased individually due to county requirements to keep 15 courtrooms available. Consequently, construction was extended to over 30 months. SRBR also provided commissioning and testing of the HVAC, audio-visual and CCTV systems.

The project involved a complete survey of the existing closed loop condenser water system. The system has 25 air conditioner units that range in size from 10 tons to 30 tons. SRBR used the survey to produce a set of as-built drawings and confirm design conditions. SRBR wrote a series of commissioning procedures to be followed by a testing facility hired by SRBR, to gather data from all components in the system. Upon completion of the testing and survey, SRBR produced a study with recommendations and procedures that should be followed and turned over to GSA. 

SRBR was responsible for the complete coordination between the engineer of record and the design intent documents produced by the interior architects. This included sizing of units for computer rooms, conference rooms, training rooms and entrance areas. SRBR also coordinated all floor penetrations and furniture connections. We produced furniture whip drawings which indicate circuit numbers for computers and normal service, along with other components that required connections. These drawings are then turned over to the furniture supplier for installation.

This scope of this project was to replace the two existing emergency generators with two new larger 600 KW generators. The project requires the design to be completed in three phases due to the fact that the building had to remain occupied and in operation throughout the renovation. Additional equipment was added to the emergency generator that included the building fire pump, building sump pumps, and building sewage ejectors.

The project involved the study and completion of documents for energy enhancement of the Maryland State Office Buildings on West Preston Street. SRBR was the consultant for a national energy construction contractor. The central automatic temperature controls were replaced and the current heating, ventilating and air conditioning system was modified to provide over $340,000.00 of annual operating cost savings to the State of Maryland. The existing, central, electric boiler plant was converted to energy efficient gas fired systems to further enhance the energy savings to the owner.

As part of our “open-end” contract with Anne Arundel County – DPW, SRBR provided complete design and engineering services for the systemic renovation and improvements to this building. The initial phase of this project was a schematic study and cost estimate to validate the proposed budget and requested improvements. SRBR provided site investigation studies during “off-hours” since the building is totally occupied. Although not required to be registered, compliance and documentation with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED criteria was required whenever possible. The new design also included significant code upgrades to enhance the well-being of the occupants and include improved ventilation, high-efficiency gas fired boilers (replaces original electric boilers) and a DDC control system. 

This county seat of government building was constructed in 1969 and has not had its mechanical and electrical systems renovated. Equipment failures have been increasingly problematic for occupants. SRBR provided full design services, construction cost estimates, bid services and construction administration phase services. 

This FDA campus provides administrative, laboratory and testing associated with various products and licensing agreements. SRBR is working with Washington Gas Energy Services to update and replace the existing primary system, secondary switchboards and motor control centers. The purpose is to improve electric service reliability and improve maintainability of equipment. The installed equipment is antiquated, passed expected useful life and replacement parts are becoming increasing difficult to locate. Since the installation is fully occupied, the design included intense detailing for sequencing and construction phasing. The design included an arc-fault analysis, short circuit study, breaker coordination analysis, coordination with PEPCO and meetings with the user t insure sequencing and phasing compatibility. Several motor control centers were replaced since a large quantity of starters have been removed and/or abandoned over the years and replaced with VFD’s. The replacement equipment is significantly smaller. The site has two separate 15KV PEPCO feeders with each feeder also servicing doubled ended gear on site. Additionally, service transformers have redundancy integral to the design with doubled ended secondary switchboards. An on-site emergency generating plant also sequenced into the automated switching should both PEPCO feeders fail.

SRBR was the primary mechanical and electrical engineering consultants on numerous open-ended contracts for the Maryland Department of Transportation. The projects involved new maintenance facilities and renovations to existing facilities throughout the state of Maryland. The typical maintenance complex comprised multiple buildings for district office space, vehicle maintenance, vehicle wash bays, vehicle storage, and materials storage to include salt storage domes. Facilities completed include:

SRBR provided a range of engineering services to numerous government facilities. Here are some: