WB Engineers | Consultants named commissioning authority for 85,000 s/f

WB Engineers | Consultants has been named the commissioning authority for the construction of Kaplan Hall, one of two buildings comprising the Newburgh Extension Center of the State University of New York in Orange County (SUNY Orange). The project, which broke ground at the end of 2008, consists of a new 85,000 s/f building plus significant renovations of the existing Tower Building. Edward Moore, P.E., a senior associate at WB, will oversee the commissioning process, an important part of the project's application for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. "The new building is designed to handle laboratory requirements for the school's science and nursing programs," said Moore, who is in charge of WB's building commissioning services. "It also will contain classrooms, a library, and a community room. A photovoltaic system is being incorporated to enhance the 'green' aspects of the campus. The system is being sized to meet LEED credit requirements for onsite renewable energy." According to Moore, the 15kw system will provide 2.5% of the building's anticipated energy requirements. The building also will incorporate a 250-ton frictionless, magnetic centrifugal chiller and an energy recovery unit featuring energy recovery wheel technology. On completion of this project, the Newburgh Extension Center will encompass a total of 172,000 s/f of academic and student support space. The campus will include a two-story underground parking garage and a landscaped plaza. The new building will be named Kaplan Hall after philanthropist and civic leader William Kaplan. Kaplan Hall is scheduled to be completed by fall 2010; the overall project is expected to wrap up by fall 2011. In addition to WB, the project team includes JMZ Architects and Planners and Holt Construction.