Smith Seckman Reid - Leveraging Commissioning for High Performance Facilities

The ITIC Curve for Power Quality

In the July November/December issue of ASHE’s Health Facilities Management, David Stymiest, PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, writes about a reference created by the Information Technology Industry Council that can help prevent power quality issues in IT systems for hospitals.

Ensuring Facility Power Quality

In the November/December 2021 issue of ASHE’s Health Facilities Management, David Stymiest, PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, writes about problems and solutions with ensuring power quality for today’s high-tech hospitals.

Adapting and Creating Healing Environments: Lessons Nurses Have Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a recent article for Nurse Leader, Debbie Gregory, DNP, RN, and others discuss how nurse leaders influenced facility design decisions, quickly evaluated the outcomes, and rapidly adapted the environment based on their own observations, assessments, changing regulatory requirements, and the needs of patients, nurses, and the caring workforce. Nurses must validate their clinical voice […]

The Evolution of NFPA 110

In a recent article for Consulting Specifying Engineer, David Stymiest, PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, outlines the evolution of NFPA 110 over the years in an effort to help electrical engineers understand the nuances. The article includes information on the evolution of major NFPA 110 changes over time, the major impacts to NFPA 110-2022 from the […]

How to use UVGI to mitigate airborne pathogens

Concerns about safety within the workplace have arisen because of the coronavirus outbreak. Questions such as “What methods can owners take to keep a workplace safe?” and “Can heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems help reduce or eliminate the airborne spread of the virus throughout the building?” have been asked of the HVAC design industry. […]

Changes to controls and automation in the manufacturing, industrial building market

David Cooper, PMP, along with three other industry experts, weighs in on several changes to controls and automation in manufacturing and industrial buildings for Consulting Specifying Engineer’s Industrial MEP Roundtable Q&A.

How Cool are Cool Roofs?

Cool roofs are an integral part of high-performance buildings and mitigating urban heat islands and climate change. High-performance buildings are those that have significantly lower energy consumption when compared with buildings that meet minimum code requirements, create a comfortable environment for occupants and are cost effective to operate. Many factors can be attributed to higher […]

Diagnosing Persistent Leaks

As a building enclosure specialist with a background in roofing, I often am called to investigate persistent leak issues that end up having less to do with the roof than the rest of the building envelope. Although roofing contractors usually are the first to be blamed for leaks, roofing contractors aren’t always able to properly […]

Changes in the Manufacturing, Industrial Building Market

David Cooper, PMP, along with three other industry experts, weighs in on several changes to the design of manufacturing and industrial buildings for Consulting Specifying Engineer’s Industrial MEP Roundtable Q&A.

Engineering with Automated Fault Detection and Diagnostics

Large commercial buildings are equipped with dozens of air handling units and hundreds of terminal boxes that maintain acceptable indoor air quality and occupant thermal comfort. Building operators are typically buried in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system data, and mostly react to occupant complaints, equipment/component failure or various levels of building automation system alarms. Automated fault detection and diagnostics, or AFDD, serves as a promising […]

Power, Electrical Equipment for Hospitals

When designing backup, standby, and emergency power systems for hospitals, there are several considerations beyond NFPA 70: National Electrical Code and other building code requirements that must be addressed. Engineers need to be mindful of the construction process, and ensure equipment replacement is coordinated, temporary power strategies are identified, and phasing concepts are developed. This […]

Backup, Standby and Emergency Power for Hospitals

When designing backup, standby and emergency power systems for hospitals, there are several considerations beyond NFPA 70: National Electrical Code and other building code requirements that must be addressed. Electrical engineers must understand the specific owner project requirements for the building’s power systems and ensure that the generator specification and system topologies meet all those […]

Your Questions Answered: HVAC Systems that Achieve Indoor Air Quality

During a recent Consulting Specifying Engineer webcast, HVAC systems that achieve indoor air quality, several questions were left unanswered. In the linked article below, Matt Short responded to the extra questions.

Conducting Alternative Equipment Maintenance Risk Assessments

In the July 2021 issue of ASHE’s Health Facilities Management, David Stymiest, PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, writes about five things to consider when evaluating risks associated with Alternative Equipment Maintenance (AEM) programs.

WELL Success Stories

In a recent article for Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Hannah Walter, PE, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP, details many of the drivers for the market shift to WELL building certification.

Designing Healthy Buildings with WELL

Now, more than ever, the industry and consumers are realizing that where we live and work has a significant impact on our health and wellness. But how does a building project know what to do to make their building “better”? The WELL Building Standard from the International WELL Building Institute was created to bridge that gap and guide teams to […]

Commissioning Emergency Power Systems

The commissioning of complex emergency power systems requires the commissioning provider (CxP) to possess technical knowledge of applicable regulations, standards and codes in addition to considerable real-world experience with emergency power systems and integrated systems testing. When discussing emergency power systems, it is important to understand a few key distinctions in equipment and system terms. […]

Checking a Building’s ‘Facts’ Through Monitoring-Based Commissioning

Similar to how ships are commissioned before setting sail for the first time, owners often elect to have their buildings commissioned before being turned over to operations. This process ensures a facility’s systems operate as they should, and the building is set to perform at peak efficiency. A building can be commissioned as part of […]

Chiller Energy Optimization Systems vs Building Automation Systems

Chilled water systems are a significant portion of a building’s energy picture, sometimes accounting for up to 40% of peak demand and 15% – 25% of annual energy usage for a large building. That makes efforts to reduce the amount of energy used by a chilled water system worthwhile. Control sequences in the Building Automation […]

How to Choose and Use Modeling Software

The scope and complexity of building design projects is broad, and there are many modeling software tools that a project team must choose from as they perform analysis and calculations, collaborate across disciplines and trades, produce construction documents and ultimately aid in the management of a building. However, it’s critical to define project team members’ […]

Underground Asset Management: It’s not 9 to 5, It’s 24/7

The City of Memphis Traffic Signal Maintenance (TSM) division has partnered with SSR to manage over 120 miles of traffic signal fiber optic infrastructure as required by the TN811 utility locate notification system. Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR) created a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform which serves as the backbone for maintaining the City’s fiber […]

Taking Virtual Technology Up a Notch

Jesse Felter, Commissioning Discipline Manager, and Cody Swayze, EI, Electrical, contributed to the CE&M article, “Taking Technology Up a Notch.” In today’s construction climate, electrical contractors and engineers must still wrap up projects on time and within budget — even in the midst of skilled labor shortages, material delays, and the global pandemic. To stay […]

Effective COVID-19 Mitigation for HVAC Systems

With a flood of information about heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technologies to combat the spread of airborne viruses such as COVID-19, the consulting engineer might ask, “How do I select systems and equipment to best meet the owner’s requirements and specific project goals?” The following list of variables should be considered: Permanent vs temporary. […]

Communicating the Water Professional’s Value

Kate MacIndoe, PE, Civil Engineer- Water/Wastewater, contributed to the Journal AWWA article, “Communicating the Water Professional’s Value.” Finally, the day of the big event has arrived. After nearly a year of planning and preparing, the annual community outreach event is here. You grin with anticipation while looking over your simple water treatment coagulation experiment. You […]

Will Telehealth Impact Facilities Work?

Telehealth is having a major impact on the delivery of health care. But in the long run, it could also have a major effect on health care facilities, too, by reducing patient traffic. “I think this would make an interesting conversation for facilities managers, because they’re focused on the nuts and bolts and having their […]

Commissioning Guideline Sneak Peak: Building Enclosure

The ACG’s Building Commissioning Guidelines is being reimaged to present best practices to the industry. Now focused on insights and strategies from experienced professionals, the guidelines are designed to help providers complete commissioning in the real world — effectively and efficiently — while overcoming common challenges. The October issue of Consulting-Specifying Engineer featured a “sneak […]

Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Offers a Fresh Take on the Fan Experience

Home to the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team, the former Quicken Loans Arena opened its 2019–20 season last autumn with a name change and new front door. After an extensive renovation by Gensler—which included bringing the 26-year-old venue to state-of-the-art standards as well as adding a glazed lobby—the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse today welcomes guests and passersby […]

Methods for Facility Risk Assessment

In “A review of common hospital utility risks,” a recent article for Health Facilities Management, Dave Stymiest PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE FASHE, addressed how proactive assessment of hospital utilities can help to minimize risks and ensure safe and efficient operations. In a second article, he expanded on the importance of performing facility risks assessment for […]

A Review of Common Hospital Utility Risks

Health care facilities are served by numerous utility infrastructure systems and their related equipment. Among these are the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems; plumbing systems (including water, waste and piped gases); and the electrical systems (both normal power and the essential electrical system). This includes the building automation and control systems, information […]

How to Apply NFPA 99 in the Design of Health Care Facilities

The design of a health care facility requires engineers to “place the public welfare above all other considerations,” as defined by the engineer’s creed. While this is equally important in the design of every project, health care facilities are unique in that patients and medical staff with a wide variety of age, health, and physical […]

Excelling, Leading, and Innovating

In addition to providing direct care to patients, nurses around the country are using their professional expertise to lead, support, and innovate around the response of healthcare systems and communities to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent article for American Nurse, Debbie Gregory, DNP, RN, discusses how she helped in the preparation to transform Nashville’s […]

Seven Factors to Monitor in Power System Operations

A few decades ago, the health facilities professional’s main activity with regard to facility power systems was running the unloaded generator weekly or monthly, and then shutting it down to take some readings. Sometimes, facilities professionals also turned circuit breakers off to relocate or fix the equipment they powered. Now, they must consider designing for […]

Roof Inspections and Extended Performance Life

For most building occupants, the roof of their building is out of sight and, therefore, out of mind. They take for granted that a roof is serving its intended function — until it fails and a leak occurs. In a recent Facility Maintenance Decisions article, Mike Spach explains why a comprehensive inspection program can benefit departments, […]

Boilers and Water Heaters: Energy-Efficiency Strategies

Boilers and water heaters are complex systems to operate and can be just as complex to maintain. Because of the potentially high costs related to each of these functions, maintenance and engineering managers are under mounting pressure to ensure the efficiency of both the maintenance and the operation of these systems. In a recent Facility Maintenance […]

Vanderbilt University Delivers Successful HVAC Upgrades

Replacing a chiller or air handler with a more efficient unit is a complex process with many moving parts. But such projects are essential for institutional and commercial facilities looking to improve energy efficiency, control utility costs, and operate more sustainably. In a recent Facility Maintenance Decisions article, Casey Hester explores some of the challenges […]

Integrated Project Delivery Powers Up Inspira Health’s Newest NJ Hospital

With the opening of Inspira Health’s new full-service hospital in Mullica Hill, NJ quickly approaching, ENR New York spotlights the benefits of the project’s integrated project delivery (IDP) approach.

Safer Disinfection for Water Systems

In the May/June issue of Tennessee Public Works Magazine, Mike Bernard, PE, recaps Metro Nashville’s phased conversion of two gaseous chlorine water treatment plants into on-site-generated sodium hypochlorite treatment plants.

Time for a Power System Reliability Check

Emergency equipment receives much attention, but normal power infrastructure requires scrutiny, too The reliability of a hospital’s normal power system depends upon many factors, including the system’s physical equipment and their arrangement, and facility professionals’ knowledge, training and informational tools. In hospital and other health care facility electrical power systems, much of the operational focus […]

Roof Inspections: 3 Key Questions

In the November/December issue of Facility Maintenance Decisions, Mike Spach, RRC, RRO, CITL 1, overview how a comprehensive roof inspection program can help building managers hold down repair costs and extend long-term performance.

How Accreditation Groups Address AEM Requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-issued Survey & Certification (S&C) Letter S&C:14-07-Hospital (titled “Hospital Equipment Maintenance Requirements”) dated Dec. 12, 2013, includes requirements and state agency survey guidelines. Most of the accrediting organizations copy the CMS S&C letter AEM inclusion-risk assessments verbatim within their physical environment standards. These requirements appear to apply only […]

Hospital’s Journey to LEED Gold Guided by Integrated Project Delivery

Projects like the 208,700 SF Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Olive Branch (Miss.) Hospital sometimes receive their most attention when the ribbon is cut. The anticipated LEED Gold for Healthcare certification, the exceptional attention to sustainability, and the use of integrated project delivery (IPD) to meet a strict budget and construction timeline are all aspects that […]

How to think like a Compliance Surveyor

What do compliance surveyors see during a building tour? Pretty much everything. Surveyors who review physical environments are sophisticated in spotting existing problem areas within health care facilities both because they know where to look and because their “fresh eyes” have never seen those areas before. While many health care facility professionals maintain eagle-eyed surveillance […]

Plumbing Renovations That Enhance Performance

Renovations and retrofits of restrooms and plumbing systems present maintenance and engineering managers with a set of difficult challenges. These areas of institutional and commercial facilities must use water efficiently, operate reliably, avoid hygiene concerns and generally provide a positive user experience. To help organizations achieve these goals, maintenance and engineering managers need to understand […]

More Than Just an Enormous Exhibit Floor

In the Winter 2017 issue of Streamlines magazine, SSR colleague Lindsay Bryant details her experience at the WEFTEC 2017 conference which was held in Alexandria, VA. Bryant details her involvement in  community service projects, experiences in technical sessions and committee members, and networking on the exhibit floor. See pages 20-21 for the full article.

Consulting Specifying Engineer- NFPA 20: Changes to the fire pump standard

The November issue of Consulting-Specifying Engineer featured an article by SSR colleagues Tom Divine and Wil Semien. “NFPA 20: Changes to the fire pump standard” explores changes to the standard that fire protection engineers need to be aware of. Learning objectives of the article include: 1. Know the basics of NFPA 20: Standard for the […]

Six Steps for Planning Low-Voltage Systems

With advanced technology being utilized in every corner of the hospital, early planning and end-user input continues to gain importance with regard to its integration during construction. Due to its complexity and the interdependence of dozens of systems and components, technology integration requires a thoughtfully developed and carefully executed strategy.  Technology planning that is too late […]

Tennessee’s Volunteers Establish Emergency Water Treatment Plant in Under Three Weeks

The 2016 drought in Tennessee garnered most attention for its relevance to the catastrophic wildfires that destroyed parts of Gatlinburg and the Great Smokey Mountains in late November. Lesser known is the impact that the drought had on water systems in southeast Tennessee. Although subsequent rains wiped out the worst of the drought conditions, they […]

Hospital Hot Water

In the July issue of Plumbing Engineer, SSR senior plumbing designer Larry Rains, CPD, explains a new plumbing design nicknamed Jump Routing. Jump Routing allows the hot water to be routed from one fixture to the next with right angles, avoiding routing down corridors to match the cold-water standard installation. This technique allows for hot […]

Planning for Hospital Utility Failures and Recovery

Healthcare organizations are expected to provide safe and reliable health care to their patients. Planning appropriate response and recovery activities for a failure of the facility’s utility systems is essential to satisfy this expectation. These systems constitute the operational infrastructure that permits safe patient care to be performed. Some of the most important utilities include […]

Using Building Energy Modeling to Devise an HVAC Plan

Healthcare HVAC systems serve many functions and are highly regulated by agencies such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). These functions and requirements lead mechanical systems to being among the largest portions of most healthcare facilities’ construction budgets. Many facility owners are also looking for high-performance HVAC systems that keep energy cost and […]

How to Apply NFPA 110-2016

Consulting engineers who specify emergency power equipment understand that installations for mission critical facilities, such as hospitals and data centers, are required to comply with NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems in conjunction with NFPA 70: National Electrical Codes. The article by Tom Divine, PE, LEED AP, “How to Apply NFPA 110-2016”, […]

BGMU’s Road to Alternative Disinfection—Mixed Oxidant Generation

The Bowling Green Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is one of the oldest water treatment facilities in the State of Kentucky. In the 147 years since the first pumping station was constructed on the Barren River in 1868, the city of Bowling Green has grown substantially, and into close proximity to the WTP. In 2015, Bowling […]

Practicing the Art of Good Research

Engineers, by nature, are inquisitive folks. They like to look for things, fix things, and learn things. The advent of the personal computer, digital-information storage, and the Internet, with its easy and constant access, has changed the way information is made available. Online search engines encourage typing in keywords, and thousands of results are instantly […]

Commissioning Lighting Control Systems

Requirements for lighting controls become more complex with each edition of the energy-conservation codes. Codes and standards include ASHRAE Standard 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and California Title 24. With each level of increased complexity, the benefits of formally commissioning lighting control systems increase. Tom Divine, […]

Alternative Utility Equipment Maintenance Requirements

By David Stymiest, PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE Given the interest and news surrounding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) adoption of the 2012 editions of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) Life Safety Code (LSC) and Health Care Facilities Code, it is easy to lose track of some other recent regulatory changes. Among these […]

From Construction to Operations

By Rusty Ross, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CxA, EMP and Clay Seckman, PE, HFDP A health care organization constructs a world-class medical facility, taking all the right steps, setting all the right goals and allocating all the right resources. The project is designed and built, systems and components are started up and their performance validated, and […]

Putting COPS into Context

In the Summer 2016 issue of Pure Power, SSR’s Tom Divine, PE, LEED AP, writes about NFPA 70: National Electric Code Article 708: Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS). Article 208 introduced electrical standards for facilities that support critical functions in response to vulnerabilities from natural and human-initiated disasters. Tom’s article, “Putting COPS into Context” informs the […]

LED Codes and Standards

In the April issue of Consulting-Specifying Engineer, SSR’s Tom Divine, PE, LEED AP, authors a piece on LED Codes & Standards. In the article, he addresses the codes and standards that dictate designing with LEDs (light-emitting diode), the benefits and drawbacks to LEDs, and evaluates the use of lighting controls. The article appears on page 18 […]

Relationship of Hospital Architecture to Nursing Staff Caring for Self, Caring for Patients, and Job Satisfaction

Historically, the fields of architecture (design) and nursing (health) have been separate disciplines without much intersection. In recent years, the healthcare building boom has created a specialty practice for architects, focusing on healthcare design. With this new focus and specialty within architecture, the science of evidence-based design and the collaboration with clinical care staff have […]

Codes and Standards Hot Topics for 2016

In a recent article for Health Facilities Management, David L. Stymiest PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASH, describes a variety of potential codes and standard issues that healthcare facility managers need to be aware of in the new year.

Infrastructures to Improve Patient Safety

Technology and engineering systems help to boost environment of care In a recent article for Health Facilities Management, author Mike Hrickiewicz explores the different ways in which technology and engineering infrastructures are contributing to improved patient safety practices in healthcare facilities. Covering systems ranging from mechanical to nurse call, plumbing to security, Hrickiewicz calls on three SSR consultants (Debbie […]

Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems and Code Compliance

J. Patrick Banse, PE, Senior Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer, recently wrote an article, “Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems and Code Compliance” for Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine. The article addresses dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) that deliver dehumidified air to buildings to improve the indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Included in the article is an explanation […]

Ramping Up

Daniel Sours, PE, SE, along with former SSR employees Andy Kizzee and Lee Schultz,  wrote an article, Ramping UP, for Modern Steel Construction’s November issue. The article explores structural elements at the new Beale Street Landing (Memphis, TN), a port for riverboat traffic as well as a high-profile public park. The structures include a floating dock accessed by a […]

Deferred Maintenance: Survey Says Managers Confident About Overcoming Backlog

Facility Maintenance Decisions recently surveyed more than 550 in-house engineers and maintenance managers about deferred maintenance in their facilities. Darren Harvey, PE, LEED AP, Principal and Senior Mechanical Engineer for SSR, was interviewed by Facilities Net for his opinions on the findings of the survey. The survey included a range of questions covering topics such as specific […]

Roundtable: Regulatory Compliance

David Stymiest, PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, Senior Consultant, recently participated in a roundtable discussion for FacilitiesNet.com on regulatory compliance. Stymiest, along with two others, weighed in on compliance challenges and the trends and developments they foresee. Follow to link below to read about strategies on how to keep up.

HVAC in Focus

Panstadia & Arena Management recently ran an article exploring the challenges associated with designing HVAC systems for arenas and stadiums. Multiple architects and engineers were interviewed and provided key insights on the design of these complex systems, including SSR’s Senior Principal Mike Rogers, PE, LEED AP. Follow the link below to read the article in full.

SSR Ranked in BD+C’s 2015 Giants 300 Report

Building Design + Construction recently unveiled their 2015 Giants 300 listing and report. The report, based on AEC industry consultant PSMJ Resources’  2015 PSMJ A/E Financial Performance Benchmark Survey Report and BD+C’s annual Giants 300 report, highlights a return to optimism across the industry thanks to a rise in profits and revenue over the past […]

Inspecting Hospital Building Envelopes

Rick Ziegler, PE, RRO, and Greg Isaacs, PE, recently had an article, “Inspecting Hospital Building Envelopes,” published by Health Facilities Management. The article discusses the importance of building envelope maintenance, conducting envelope inspections, and when to utilize consultants. Follow the link below to read the article in its entirety.

Screw Centrifugal Pumps & YP Perspective

Smith Seckman Reid’s Civil and Environmental engineers recently had two articles published in the 2015 edition of Water Professionals Connector, the annual joint publication from the Kentucky/Tennessee Section of AWWA and Kentucky-Tennessee  Water Environment Association. Mike Bernard, PE, Joe Griffey, PE, and Lindsay Bryant, PE, from SSR, along with John Strickland and Darren Gore of […]

The Key to Clinical Space Design

Debbie Gregory, RN, BSN, was recently interviewed by Hospitals & Health Networks about new trends in designing clinical spaces to be both patient and technology friendly. In the article, Gregory explores the role of interprofessional collaboration to ensure quality and safety in healthcare facilities and how it has become a necessity in bridging the gap between […]

Reducing Disinfection Byproducts (DBP)

Stones River Water Treatment Plant and Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. conducted a study of the water treatment plant and distribution system aimed at reducing disinfection byproducts. This was necessary to maintain compliance with the federal Stage 2 Disinfection Byproduct Rule (DPBR). After examining the results of the data, it was determined that Stones River had […]

Emergency Power Code Revisions

Healthcare facilities are anticipating a substantial change in codes regarding emergency power systems management. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is expected to adopt the 2012 editions of the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) and Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99) within the next year or so. The Joint Commission is  expect […]

Optimizing Genset Sizing

Tom Divine was recently authored the cover story article for Pure Power magazine on designing generator systems. The article addresses requirements for different types of loads described in codes, their impact in various types of facilities, and ways to avoid testing difficulties. Follow the link below to read the article in its entirety.

HVAC Systems for Off Site Care

Off-site healthcare facilities have become a growing trend across the healthcare market. These smaller facilities don’t require the same amount of demand that larger facilities do. Manufacturers have developed options to meet the decreased HVAC needs of these smaller facilities. In a recent article by Health Facilities Management,  Clay Seckman, PE, Senior Principal, explained the difference between packaged and split […]

Preventing Wet Stacking

Tom Divine, PE, LEED AP, recently authored an article for Consulting-Specifying Engineer exploring the cause of wet stacking, a phenomenon that affects diesel engines, and some ways to prevent or treat the buildup. Follow the link below to view the article in it’s entirety.

How to Plan for Water Outages

SSR’s Senior Consultant, David Stymiest, PE, CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, discusses how healthcare facilities can prepare for water supply disruptions in the latest issue of Health Facilities Management (HFM) magazine. In the article, Stymiest discusses different potential causes of water disruption and the impact that it can have on all aspects of a healthcare facilities operations. Beyond […]

Designing Clinical Spaces Through Collaboration

Debbie Gregory, RN, BSN, recently sat down with Health Facilities Management to discuss what is required to create safe, efficient clinical spaces. In the interview she explores new technologies and the challenges presented in regards to integration and infrastructure, keys to improving patient safety and outcomes while optimizing workflow, how to ensure adequate clinical representation […]

HVAC Systems for Healthcare Facilities

Pat Banse discusses the unique HVAC requirements that hospitals have compared to other facilities.

Building safe, effective health care facilities: Codes and standards

Smith Seckman Reid’s Pat Banse participated in a Q&A session for Consulting-Specifying Engineer on codes and standards in healthcare facilities. Follow the link below for the article in its entirety.  

Smarter Integration of Building Controls

Automation system innovations lead to advanced applications The capabilities of building automation systems (BASs) have expanded significantly over the past several years. New systems are more complex and smarter than ever. BASs are being used to monitor and control HVAC equipment, lighting and occupancy in hospitals. Energy management also is a big focus today and […]

Maintaining Power Systems

Electrical equipment upkeep as a compliance issue Most hospital facilities professionals realize that power system maintenance is an important reliability issue and the impact of robust inspection, testing and maintenance programs cannot be underestimated. But, behind these best practices are a set of regulatory issues and industry guidelines of which health facilities professionals also must […]

Energy Recovery Systems: Airside and Waterside

Energy recovery is an option for organizations using a direct exchange system that’s increasingly being written into building codes and ASHRAE standards. There are two basic types: airside and waterside. According to Ron Holdaway, an engineer at Smith Seckman Reid, airside energy recovery is the process of using the building’s exhaust air to pre-condition the […]

Energy Recovery Systems Can Cut Energy Use Significantly

Energy recovery in buildings today is a true paradigm shift from traditional practice of 20-30 years ago, because the technology to accomplish it didn’t exist. ‘”It is now commonplace to expect some type of energy recovery incorporated into the building’s HVAC system,” says Ron Holdaway, an engineer at Smith Seckman Reid. “Rather than throwing away […]

Know the Intent, Changes of NFPA 99-2012

NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code was completely overhauled and rewritten from the 2005 edition to the 2012 edition and was changed from a “standard” to a ”code.” J. Patrick Banse, PE, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston Health care delivery and administration has changed over the years and continues to evolve, not just for reimbursement […]

NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems extended Q&A

Recent Consulting-Specifying Engineer webcast presenters Tom Divine, PE, Project Manager, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., and Kenneth Kutsmeda, PE, LEED AP, Jacobs Engineering, answer reader questions about what new code requirements will mean for consulting engineers. Q: When is it required to have a 3 pole and 4 pole ATS? Tom Divine: When the generator is […]

SSR Ranked on ENR’s List of Top 500 Design Firms

The design profession has been hit hard over the past six years. By some estimates, as many as 40% of architects were unemployed during the height of the recession, in 2009. Engineers fared better but not by much. Everybody did more with less. Now, after several fits and starts over the past few years, the […]

Engineers…Quietly Making a Difference

By David Bradford,  Memphis Business Journal They are the little-known heroes. When buildings are christened, bridges are celebrated and intersections are made more efficient, these men and women are content to sit quietly on the sidelines and savor the accomplishment of a job well done. They are engineers and their hands touch every part of […]

Designing Laboratory Ventilation Systems

By J. Patrick Banse, PE, and Chris St. Cyr, in the January / February 2014 issue of Consulting Specifying Engineer. Proper ventilation of laboratory settings is required to promote and maintain laboratory safety and protection to life and property. Items such as fume containment, worker safety, proper cleanliness through pressure  relationships, filtration, air changes per […]

Smart Money: Making the case for hospital infrastructure funding

Many health facilities managers would like to be more successful in obtaining depreciation dollars to fund maintenance and infrastructure capital renewal adequately. Gaining access to depreciation funding often involves being more successful at selling the maintenance mission and requires a multifaceted approach. The rules of engagement include such disparate approaches as communicating with budget committees […]

Life Cycle Cost Approach to HVAC Systems

Clay Seckman, PE, discusses Life Cycle Cost Approaches to HVAC Systems in the latest issue of the Turner Healthcare Monitor newsletter.

Back To Life At Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital is in the business of improving the quality of life for patients with disabilities and their families, through its patient care, teaching, and research programs. For 42 years, the organization, which is part of the not-for-profitPartners HealthCare (Boston), operated a facility on Nashua Street in Boston. But its small double-occupancy rooms, inaccessible bathrooms, and […]

Williamson Medical Center children’s hospital groundbreaking

Executives placed ceremonial shovels in the ground at the site of the front door of the hospital, which will officially be named Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center. News Channel 5, November 19, 2013.

Returning to Earth

Geothermal system at Methodist Olive Branch Hospital offers case study for HVAC selection. Medical Construction & Design, November/December 2013.

COAA Announces Winners of 2013 Project Leadership Awards

Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) announced the winners of the 2013 Project Leadership Awards during the COAA Fall Owners Leadership Conference Awards Luncheon, October 31, 2013. The Gold Award was awarded to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare for the Methodist Olive Branch project. October 2013.

Announcing the Top 40 Under 40 class of 2013

Forty successful business and community leaders have been selected as the 2013 honorees of Memphis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 Awards.

Energy Recovery Is Becoming Common Way To Save On HVAC Costs

Energy recovery is an option to save on HVAC costs for organizations using a direct exchange system that’s increasingly being written into building codes and ASHRAE standards. Like VRF, there are two basic types: airside and waterside. According to Ron Holdaway, an engineer at Smith Seckman Reid, airside energy recovery is the process of using […]

Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

As I look at our profession, I see a void in leadership. I am not referring to your boss, executives, or directors. There are great leaders within all of our various organizations. But when I look out across the landscape of our state, engineers in leadership positions are absent. We have long advocated that being […]

Work begins on Richellen Park

When folks gather Tuesday, July 30, for groundbreaking ceremonies at Richellen Park, it will signal the beginning of the last major county park project following a series of upgrades at existing parks that date back to 2008. Developing the 52-acre park located on Highway 149 between the Cumberland Heights and Palmyra areas will by far […]

Where Technology And Design Meet In Future Care Delivery

When I recently asked a panel of healthcare technology gurus what their ideal environment of care looks like, it wasn’t a “homelike” space that they described. Rather, it was very literally “home.” I had the pleasure of moderating the panel “Design Considerations for Technological Innovation in Healthcare Delivery,” a DuPont event held in conjunction with Healthcare Design at the DuPont […]

Contemporary and Alternative Existing-Building Commissioning

The Great Recession, as the last five-plus years have come to be known, has been tough on building owners and operations-and-maintenance (O&M) staffs. As they face mounting pressure to maximize net operating income, they increasingly are turning to existing-building commissioning (EBCx) to keep maintenance and utility costs down. This article will define contemporary EBCx, describe the […]

Tupelo Council delays first step toward railroad ‘quiet zone’

Northeast Mississippi News Daily Journal article about Tupelo’s City Council delaying the vote to explore implementing “quiet zones” along railroad tracks in the city. If passed, SSR would complete necessary first steps of engineering and other technical work required for a quiet zone application. TUPELO – Wanting more time to ask questions about an effort […]

Tupelo Council to vote on railroad ‘quiet zone’ study

TUPELO – Loud train whistles throughout Tupelo could turn into memories, starting with a City Council vote today to explore “quiet zones.”City Council members will likely vote to authorize work on a $138,000 “analysis and diagnostics” study that could lead to quiet zones along railroad tracks in the city.The study would be a necessary first […]

Design project reimagines hospital rooms

Two Nashville companies are at the heart of a national effort to design a hospital room that will transform patient care. Dubbed “Patient Room 2020,” the latest version of the project is set to be unveiled later this month at the DuPont Corian Design Studio in New York City. Designed in collaboration by architects, engineers […]

Heart of Texas

The Louis & Peaches Owen Heart Hospital on the Trinity Mother Frances campus in Tyler, Texas is the cover story for the May/June issue of Medical Construction and Design. SSR provided MEP engineering services to the new, 154,000 SF facility.

2013 Top 40 Electrical Design Firms

SSR ranked on of nation’s top electrical engineering firms by Electrical Construction & Maintenance. The nation’s top U.S. electrical design firms weathered the storm during the economic slowdown with slim margins, fierce competition, and drastically reduced opportunities. By diversifying their services and expanding into new areas, however, the companies are now reporting a brighter outlook […]

Memphis link to the ‘Mighty Mississippi’

Located in Memphis, Tenn.,on the Mississippi River, the new Beale Street Landing consists of a public park, passenger boat docking facility, and terminal building. A modern, world-class docking facility was needed to better accommodate passenger boat traffic up and down America’s most used interior waterway. A secondary goal of the design was to create a […]

Clinical Coaching for Healthcare App and Device Developers

The convergence of technology and the healthcare industry is proving to be a valuable and exciting partnership. The effect of technological innovation on disease management has been changing patients’ lives … providing greater quantity and quality of life. Being able to monitor their own blood pressure, glucose, calories, air quality for asthma, and many other […]

Chiller up: Technology advances drive major efficiency gains for hospitals

Chillers don’t seem to get the respect they deserve when it comes to their abilities to help drive greater efficiency and reduce energy consumption. With some recent tweaks to these systems, however, many engineers and plant operations leaders are taking a fresh look at how to harness their potential. The latest chiller technology features variable-speed […]

Integrated Project Delivery at Owensboro Medical Health System

The Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS) in Owensboro, Ky., USA, is building a replacement facility consisting of a nine-story, 780,000 square foot hospital and a threestory diagnostic and treatment building on a 160-acre site. Scheduled for completion in 2013, the project has utilized the integrated project delivery (IPD) method. While IPD can be benefi cial […]

LEED Improving on Bridging the Design to Operations Gap

The LEED program in general has become more about existing buildings than new construction as evidenced by the certified square footage of existing buildings recently surpassing certified square footage of new construction projects.  The enhanced commissioning (Cx) and measurement and verification (M&V) credits are examples of good opportunities that tie design and construction to operations […]

Designing for Health Care Technology

In response to smaller reimbursements, greater operational costs and more demanding record-keeping requirements, the delivery of health care is becoming increasingly tied to technology. Because technology is now setting the pace in a large number of new construction and renovation projects, facility owners are finding themselves having conversations with architects and designers about technology much […]

St. Mary’s Medical Center shines as a federal Energy Star

St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs, Mo., is now the only hospital in the Kansas City area to receive an energy efficient certification from the federal government. A release says the Environmental Protection Agency gave St. Mary’s its Energy Star certification, which puts the hospital in the top 25 percent of similar facilities for its nationwide energy efficiency […]

Assessing alternatives to alleviate suburban flooding

The town of Collierville, Tenn., recently began construction on a regional detention basin designed to reduce flooding. Collierville is a suburb of the Memphis metropolitan area and has a population of approximately 44,000 residents. The town has experienced several major storm events in the last few years, and several homes within the Lateral J basin […]

Water conscious: Plumbing fixtures that promote safety and efficiency

Vendors are paying special attention to water containment to prevent the spread of bacteria. A number of vendors offer hand-washing sinks for hospital staff — and the public — with features to keep the water contained. And they have good reason to make the effort. Jeremy Cressman, vice president, commercial trade, American Standard Brands, Piscataway, […]

Building for the Cure

Completed just more than a year ago, the new SECU Cancer Center at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, was awarded LEED Gold certification in April 2012, making it the third Gold-certified cancer center in the United States and the largest certified facility of its kind in the state. Construction on the $38 million, 120,000-square-foot center was […]

Geothermal Systems for Commercial Facilities

When I started my career 17 years ago, only a few geothermal-unit configurations were available, and those met most industry needs. With the inception of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green-building rating program and stricter ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1, Ventilation for […]

What Can We Expect from 2013?

January is a time of reflection for most – a time to ask what was great about the previous year (and maybe what was not so much). Many also ask themselves, “What will I do to effect positive change in the coming year?” When we look back on the last several years in the green […]

Bridge The Gap From Construction To Efficient Operations

Between the end of a facility’s construction and the beginning of its operations, there’s a substantial transition period where most, if not all, of the professionals who designed, installed and verified the initial conditions of the building cease to be involved. A new team of people begins to run the building, taking on the phase […]

Tie Design and Construction Teams to Building Performance

Most buildings that will be in existence in 2030 are already here today. So an average 22 percent savings across around 75 billion square feet in the United States ends up being a lot of cost, energy and emissions avoidance. No doubt the biggest opportunity is in existing buildings. But what about the new buildings […]

Building for tomorrow: Decentralized care provides model for hospital planning, design and construction

As health care grapples with lower reimbursements, an influx of newly insured patients and a value-based delivery system that is so far more theory than reality, designers, facilities managers, engineers and industry experts of all stripes are attempting to define what these changes will mean for facilities over the next five years. “Health care organizations […]

Existing-Building Energy Modeling

An energy model is a computer-generated representation of a building used to estimate the impact of proposed changes to the building on energy use. It is a comparative tool most commonly used: New construction • To evaluate the impact of different design options (e.g., a chilled-beam system as opposed to a conventional overhead single-duct variable-air-volume […]

Emerging Technologies in Health Care Delivery

Managing one’s health in the future will involve an app, a “smart” device or a patient portal. The explosion of the mobile technology industry is fast and furious, and health systems are scrambling to keep up. These changes create both opportunities and risks; but by far the positives outweigh the negatives. The impact of this […]

Germantown Fire House 4, StationStyle Design Awards

Guide to Green: Saving energy through existing building commissioning

Energy-Efficient Dehumidification In Health Care Facilities

With a wide spectrum of specialized spaces and particular outside air requirements, a hospital’s en-ergy-efficiency efforts start when arranging which areas go where. From there, the author leaves no technology unturned — chilled beams, geothermal, DOAS, VRF, etc. — in evaluating which ap-proaches might best contribute proper ventilation and humidity in which environments, with an […]

Goodbye Growing Season, Hello Knowing Season

While fall is a time of demise in the natural world and an edging toward a period of dormancy, for me it never fails to awaken my senses and rejuvenate my creative spirit. With Greenbuild just around the corner, my personal reawakening coincides with the world’s largest green building conference, which is visiting San Francisco […]

Memphis Area Transit Authority center earns Silver LEED certification

The Memphis Area Transit Authority’s Airways Transit Center, 3033 Airways Blvd., has gained high marks for its environmentally-friendly design. The U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, has given the 30,000-square-foot project a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification. This makes it the first newly constructed, publicly funded building to gain this […]

New Era of Efficiency: Net-Zero Buildings

From multitenant office buildings to mixed-use developments, new net-zero energy buildings — buildings that produce at least as much energy as they use on an annual basis — are popping up coast to coast. Though they are still a small percentage of new construction, several factors are converging to move net-zero energy buildings from myth […]

Top of the List: Engineering firms

Hernando has parks plan, intends to run with it

The reality may be many laps away — ballparks at Renasant Park and soccer fields at the old North Lagoon acreage — and funding a frequent hurdle, but the vision of a wide-ranging, inclusive parks and recreation system for Hernando is here, thanks to a master plan months in the making with eager citizen input. […]

Geothermal Heating and Cooling Options

After reviewing basic design options, the next steps for potential geothermal designers are to challenge the common concerns and myths, study how different choices have different cost impacts, and be aware of the ways a good design can yield bad performance if the installation isn’t done well. Add the habit of turning a retrofit’s circumstances […]

The 2030 Challenge and commitment for plumbing engineers

Reducing fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions are important goals for our industry; however, they are difficult to achieve and measure. Designers, contractors, owners and operators start with good intentions, but many new buildings ultimately have minimal energy-efficiency improvements over the buildings they replaced. Buildings are major consumers of energy. To decrease greenhouse gas […]

All systems go: New resource provides commissioning support for health facility managers

The specialized and especially demanding needs of health care facilities make them a prime environment for commissioning to net the greatest value. However, with no unilateral health care-specific standard, facility managers often were left to cobble together a number of commissioning guides to arrive at a less-than-ideal commissioning process and lingering doubt regarding the adequacy […]

Risk + Reward: Assessing the need for electrical system shutdown

Citing concerns for worker safety, tighter insurance requirements and Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforcement actions, most electrical contractors and electrical service companies now do their work in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. They are no longer willing to maintain or to modify “hot,” […]

In engineering, what really matters?

 sometimes wonder if the specifications we create are really any different than the bricks I’ve seen used as doorstops from time to time. I also sometimes wonder what is relevant, what is related, and whose job is it, and would (should) we, as engineers, do things the same way and with the same passion and […]

Regulatory trends in water efficiency

The plumbing industry is slow to change. This can be a good thing, because our health and safety depend on plumbing, but it can also be frustrating when trends need to change. For example: A growing concern is that plumbing professionals design systems only for the health and safety of people at the expense of […]

Designing the Learning Space of the Future

The students have changed, and the way spaces get used is changing as well. How do we need think about educational environments to foster better thinking inside them? Architects and engineers are constantly challenged in the higher education market with the same goal from clients over and over again. “We want the learning space of […]

Water efficiency changes for LEED 2012

The USGBC LEED rating system is a guideline for building teams wanting to design, build and operate sustainable buildings that reduce energy and water consumption when compared to “average” buildings through the use of sustainable site, materials and resources practices. The LEED rating system offers a checklist of sustainable elements, called credits, which can be […]

Creating a High-Performance Marketplace

Baptist and Vanguard Health Strike Gold in Texas

As the first LEED Gold certified hospital in the state of Texas,Mission Trail Baptist Hospital is set to save $150,000 in annual energy costs and $1.1 million gallons of potable water per year. Giving the project a jump start toward LEED certification was the selection of the previously developed Brooks Air Force Base site in San […]

Lighting It Up: LED fixture manufacturers target health care facilities

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology offers hospitals many advantages over traditional lighting, such as energy savings, longer life, lower heat output and design flexibility. Little wonder that it can be found everywhere from parking lots to surgical suites. During the past decade, most health care facil­ities upgraded their lighting to energy-efficient fluorescent technology, industry experts say. […]

2012 White Paper: High-Performance Reconstructed Buildings: The 99% Solution

Reconstruction in its many forms—tenant improvements, retail fitouts, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, gut rehab, and so on—is keeping many design and construction firms solvent. The collapse of the U.S. housing market in 2007-2008 precipitated a nearly commensurate downturn in new nonresidential construction in the United States. Filling the gap, at least to some extent, has […]

Making the Most of It (feature on Stones River Water Treatment Plant in Murfreesboro, TN)

When superintendent Alan Cranford looks out at his upgraded 20 mgd Stones River Water Treatment Plant in Murfreesboro, Tenn., he may be viewing the facility of the future. Membranes. Granular activated carbon filters. High-tech lime system. On-site sodium hypochlorite generation. Sophisticated SCADA system, including portable data tablets. But he knows it takes more than state-of-the-art […]

Energy-efficient plumbing technologies of the future

Some energy-efficient technologies are the holy grail of the plumbing industry. These technologies would allow a building to be a comfortable, safe place to live or work while using only the energy it generates, with no connections to the utility grid. Like the Holy Grail of history, however, these desirable technologies are just out of […]

Mind the Gap Between Construction and Occupancy to Preserve Efficiency

In the pursuit of a high-performance building, LEED certification or net-zero design, there is no guarantee that the resulting performance will persist for more than a short period of time. Something happens between the end of a facility’s construction and the beginning of its operations. Even if the teams have miraculously bundled forward-thinking mechanical and […]

The Top 500 Design Firms Start to Rise Above Economic Woes

After four years, it appears the U.S. construction market has bottomed out and is beginning the slow climb out of recession. For many large U.S. design firms, this development is cause for both relief and celebration. But for other design firms, particularly in the public infrastructure markets, uncertainty about the future remains a constant. The […]

Floating ‘trash rack’ to help catch debris at harbor

From a pontoon boat meandering down Wolf River Harbor on a sparkling spring day, Hart Robinson and his friends caught sight of the odd structure mounted on pilings near the shore and weren’t quite sure what to make of it. A new place to dock? A fishing pier? Actually, it was neither. But Robinson was […]

The Authoritative Source for Plumbing, Hydronics, Fire Protection and PVF

If I were a moviemaker, I would make a movie about water. Humans are fascinated with water. We can sit on a beach, in a boat or a bathtub or by a swimming pool or stream for hours, letting the sound, smell and feeling of the water flow around and through us. This is true […]

40 Under 40, the Class of 2012

The 40 young AEC professionals featured here represent the Class of 2012 in Building Design+Construction’s “40 UNDER 40” competition. They were chosen from among 223 applicants to join the 240 previous recipients of this honor, dating to 2006. They range in age from 27 to 39 (as of December 31, 2011, the contest deadline), with a median […]

Retrofitting plumbing fixtures in existing buildings for water efficiency

As reported by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) last December, for the first time “LEED-certified existing buildings are outpacing their newly built counterparts … square footage of LEED-certified existing buildings surpassed LEED-certified new construction by 15 million square feet on a cumulative basis.” Water efficiency is an important part of upgrading existing buildings. The […]

Improvements in HVAC Technology Boost Indoor Air Quality

Air control, filtration and ventilation technologies can improve the health care environment and help facility managers meet the special performance considerations inherent in hospitals. Hospital facility managers must deal with rigorous performance requirements when it comes to improving indoor air quality (IAQ). What’s more, these design considerations are regulated by organizations that write codes and […]

Classrooms that Work

For most of us, a conversation about school brings back memories of our earliest and oldest friends, a childhood crush, going to lunch and recess, learning about government, having “fun” with algebra, or pretending to play this week’s gym class game in front of huge crowds on television. The thought that may not surface while […]

In Case of Fire

In a February 2009 report, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) identified that during 2003-2006, municipal fire departments responded to an estimated 3,750 structure fires in medical, mental health, and substance abuse facilities, annually. These fires resulted in one civilian death, 57 civilian injuries, and $26.9 million in direct property damage. While no amount of […]

Smooth Start: Ensuring Emergency Power System Performance

Like all other mission-critical systems, emergency power systems should be commissioned to attain the necessary operational reliability. Emergency power system commissioning (Cx) can be considered a documented quality assurance program that finds and resolves potential emergency power system-related problems before patients are admitted and procedures are performed. Emergency power system Cx is not the same […]

Mass Notification System Requires More Flexibility Than Fire Alarm

While a mass notification system and a fire alarm system have similar goals — quickly warning a large number of people about an incident — they couldn’t be more different when it comes to possible uses and designs. After all, a fire alarm system has a singular purpose. “Previously, when we used to design fire […]

Using On-site Systems to Help Offset Combined Sewer Overflows

More than 770 communities across the country are implementing long-term control plans to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s requirement to reduce the number of combined sewer overflows (CSO). Most communities with CSOs are located in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions and the Pacific Northwest (see Figure 1), affecting approximately 40 million people. The […]

Helping buildings operate at their peak

Most people don’t hear the word “conditioning” and immediately think of buildings and construction. But just as a trainer can help athletes reach their potential, James Qualk helps buildings operate at peak efficiency. “The firm was founded in 1968 and originally was performing mechanical, electrical and plumbing design services,” says Qualk, vice president of LEED […]

San Antonio’s newest hospital also the “greenest”

SAN ANTONIO — It’s a first for Texas. A San Antonio hospital has been awarded the highest certification as a “green” building. San Antonio’s newest hospital is also officially its greenest. Mission Trail Baptist Hospital at Brooks City-Base on the southeast side is in the business of treating sick people, delivering babies and saving lives. According […]

Primex Wireless Enters Agreement with Smith Seckman Reid

Primex Wireless, a provider of solutions to automate and maintain healthcare facility compliance, announced that it has reached an agreement with Smith Seckman Reid (SSR), an engineering design and facility consulting firm, to assume responsibility for SSR’s survey and inspection solutions. Under the agreement, Primex Wireless said it will take over all development, support and […]

Plumbing System Efficiency: Repair Or Replace?

The push for water conservation in restrooms in institutional and commercial facilities is creating pressure to address problems related to plumbing components and systems. One key decision maintenance and engineering managers face is whether to repair existing plumbing fixtures in an attempt to address water-conservation demands or to replace plumbing systems to achieve this goal. […]

Smith Seckman Reid opens Chicago office

Nashville-based Smith Seckman Reid Inc. has opened a Chicago office, the company announced late Tuesday. The engineering firm had already been active in the Chicago market, with more than 20 ongoing or recently completed projects in the area. “Based on our growth in the Chicago market, it was only natural that we establish roots to […]

Best Firm: SSR Inc. – Integrity In All They Do

In 1968, Tom Seckman, Andy Reid, Lester Smith and Bobby Smith gathered in a house in Nashville, Tenn., to draft their magna carta for a new company. It was then that the foundation was set for success and Smith, Seckman, Reid, Inc., was born. And, in the 40-plus years since their start, while almost everything, […]

Hospital to Have $1 Billion Impact

OLIVE BRANCH — Olive Branch Mayor Sam Rikard said Wednesday the 14-year effort to site and build a 100-bed hospital in Olive Branch will have a $1 billion impact to the fastest growing city in America.“It’s a big day for Olive Branch,” Rikard said during groundbreaking ceremonies Wednesday at the hospital site near the intersection […]

Texas Children’s Hospital Adds a Pavilion for Women to the Facility Family

Texas Children’s Hospital and its family of medical facilities at Houston’s Texas Medical Center are welcoming a new addition. The Pavilion for Women is a $575-million facility that will bring maternity and neonatal care capabilities to the hospital. Taking the pavilion from conception to birth is the most ambitious construction project in the hospital’s history and […]

Taking Control: Building automation applications continue to expand

Today’s building automation systems have advanced far beyond their HVAC-centric past to handle additional functions such as lighting, security and more, providing key oppor­tunities to save operational and maintenance dollars. Integration and interoperability are key trends in building automation systems (BASs), creating new opportunities for hospitals to save money. At the same time, new wireless […]

A Clean Bill of Health

Promoting healing and health isn’t just the job of doctors and nurses at Rockingham Memorial Hospital – the building itself plays a key role in patient recovery through environmental stewardship. The first hospital in Virginia to achieve LEED Gold certification, Rockingham Memorial Hospital (RMH) infuses sustainability into every corner of the 630,000-square-foot building. The facility’s […]

From Splashy to Subtle

While new construction has slowed, the interest in all things green among property owners, tenants, environmental activists and government departments continues to drive technological advances. Indeed, the latest green technologies offer new and in some cases cheaper options. Emerging green-building technologies range from the splashy to the subtle. For instance, green-building technology companies are now […]

2011 Best Multi-Discipline A/E Services Firms to Work For

Superior workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, and other incentives make the following this year’s Best Multidiscipline A/E Services Firms To Work For. Ranging from 15 to more than 1,200 full-time employees, the sixth annual Best Multidiscipline A/E Services Firms To Work For ranking saw participation from 24 firms, with huge variations in services offered. […]

Methodist Selects OB Hospital Build Team

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has announced it has selected the design and construction team to build its new $137 million hospital in Olive Branch, and that the team is expected to break ground on the project Oct. 19. Methodist, which already has six hospitals in the Memphis metro area, won approval in July from the […]

Methodist to Begin Building Olive Branch Hospital Oct. 19

The health care system announced late Wednesday the design and construction team for the $137 million, 100-bed hospital. Architecture firm Gresham Smith and Partners, with offices in Memphis as well as a dozen other cities, was selected to design the hospital. Nashville-based Smith Seckman and Reid Inc. was chosen to handle the engineering design, and New York […]

Smart hospital engineering

To operate properly, hospitals need smart engineering, from the HVAC systems to the fire/life safety and electrical equipment. Here, some expert engineers offer advice on smart hospital engineering.

New “Green” Standards for Medical Facilities Create Opportunities

Demand for green construction and its economic impact has exploded in recent years despite the tough economy. Green building now supports more than 2 million jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. But one industry — a major consumer of energy and producer of waste […]

The Gradual Conversion to Class A Office Complexes into LEED Silver and LEED Gold

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Spectrum Properties | Emery has taken this message to heart, leading the charge for ongoing sustainable retrofits and operations in the Southeast. Though the North Carolina-based real estate company has been implementing best practices and pursuing LEED® certification on new construction projects for several years, the sustainability journey […]

Panel to discuss property acquisition

CROSSVILLE — The Crossville City Council will consider how to move forward to acquire property for the first phase of the Northwest Connector when it meets tonight.City Attorney Kenneth Chadwell was tasked at a June 27 special-called meeting with continuing negotiations with property owners of the remaining two parcels needed for the highway. The city […]

SSRCx: LEEDing the Team to Gold

Gibbens Drake Scott and Systems Integration “Successful relationships equal successful projects.” The tag-line of Gibbens Drake Scott, Inc. (GDS) could also describe the necessity of good working relationships among all the players on the National Security Campus project team. GDS has an important role in maintaining the success of those relationships. GDS is the Mechanical […]

Plenum Requirements for Egress Corridors in Health Care Environments

Incorporating a plenum can have its design advantages, but corridors serving adjoining areas of health care occupancies are prohibited from being used for a portion of an air supply, air return, or exhaust air plenum. This article and its illustrations can strengthen your grasp of the related NFPA code details and exceptions so you can […]

Understanding laboratory ventilation codes

Clinical laboratories are often on-site and associated with hospitals, but many times these facilities are independent and located away from the source of patient care and treatment. Regardless of the lab location, published rules and regulations apply to the design, layout, finishes, equipment, ventilation, and operation of the facility. While this article identifies many of the […]

Realistic Expectations Needed to Get Most Out of Energy Modeling

From time to time, when a building owner knows that an energy model has been used in the design of a building, he or she may ask, “How much will my utility bills be?” This is certainly a legitimate concern for all building owners, as they may need to know how to set up billing […]

Mobile Healthcare Technology Summit Brings Industry Leaders Together in Houston

Industry leaders fielded questions and provided valuable insights about the use of mobile technologies in Healthcare at the Houston Mobile Healthcare Technology Summit held on May 5, 2011 in Houston. The event was presented by Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. at the University of Houston Alumni Center. Other local sponsors of the event included HIMSS South Central […]

Benefits of a Whole-Building Design Approach

Working as a team earlier in the design process fosters creative problem-solving Buildings are tremendously complex. Even the simplest facilities require a highly trained team of professionals for their design, construction, and, eventually, operation. Actually, it is amazing that many buildings are ever built, considering the necessary financing, land acquisition, code and jurisdictional requirements, extremely […]

Smith Seckman Reid to Host Mobile Healthcare Technology Summit in Houston

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR), a leading engineering design and facility consulting firm, is hosting a Mobile Healthcare Technology Summit on May 5 in Houston. The event will be held at the University of Houston Alumni Center where a panel of industry experts will explore topics surrounding mobile healthcare technology in the acute care setting. “Our Houston summit […]

People in Business

Rhodes College has been ranked 15th for producing Peace Corps volunteers among among 250 colleges and universities in the southeast region. Rhodes has 91 alumni who have served in the Peace Corps and has 14 currently overseas. Smith Seckman Reid, an engineering design and facility consulting firm, was selected as a winner of the People’s Choice […]

Does Your Water System Engage in Social Networking?

We all know about the trend in social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and most of us have seen the movie Avatar and know what an avatar is. However, do you know of the new technology that uses avatars for building water systems on social websites? In this new trend, a building has an […]

READY FOR TOMORROW: SIX CRITICAL AREAS OF EMERGENCY POWER MANAGEMENT

An emergency power (EP) system’s role in patient safety is critical to hospitals and regulators. Each hospital EP system must power what the health care facility needs, when and for as long as it needs it. That is a tall order and one that likely will become more complicated as new requirements and technologies increase […]

Best of 2010: Auburn Arena

The new arena is located on the Auburn University campus northwest of the existing Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The 9,600-capacity arena has over 29,000 sq ft of student -athlete space, a two-court practice facility, men’s and women’s locker room suites with sports medicine facilities, a strength and conditioning center, lounges and meeting rooms, coaches offices, and […]

Demand Response: How to Operate Off the Grid

Most institutional and commercial facilities operate on flat rates from electric utilities. In most cases, utilities base these rates on calculations of the average cost of power delivered to customers. This method has worked for years, but a growing reliance on cooling systems has created a large demand on the electrical grid for reliable power […]

Mechanical engineering: What are we in for?

Current technologies are vastly different than the technologies in place when most mechanical engineers started. When mechanical engineers are in school, few of them know exactly where their degree might take them. I was one of those engineers. Being exposed to many aspects of this fascinating engineering program, I was awed by the range of […]

Water Treatment Plant Sets State Standard for Use of Filtration, Disinfection Technologies

The system includes two 900-lb-per-day hypochlorite generators, two 40-ton brine silos & three 15,000-gal storage tanks. Murfreesboro, Tenn., is known as one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., with a population that has grown more than 120% since 1990. As a result, Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department commissioned the 20-million-gal-per-day (mgd) Stones River […]

Green Heroes

Growing consumer desire for environmentally friendly business has led many companies to “green” their practices, making them more sustainable. In addition, many entrepreneurs have opened businesses with a green slant in recent years. The result? Green business has evolved into a profitable aspect of the business world for mom-and-pop shops and multinational companies alike.  What […]

Hernando panel a step toward Tree City USA status

Hernando has filled all seven slots on its new tree board, a panel required to gain Tree City USA status. And while the members hold firm to environmental responsibility, don’t dismiss them as tree huggers. “I’m a very practical engineer,” said one of the seven, Tiffany Heard. “But I say, ‘Just leave the trees.’ They’re […]

Maximizing Available Resources

Fine-Tuning Fixture Specification

Critical Decisions on Critical Power

Building Green Today For a More Cost-Effective Tomorrow

For the past several years, the U.S. economy has seen a tremendous amount of growth in the adoption of sustainable practices. Organic and natural products now grace the isles of almost every grocer and department store. Consumer awareness has grown as more people try to purchase organic and locally grown produce. Recycling programs are more […]

The team approach to healthcare projects

Selecting design and construction team members and determining the methodology for how they will interact during healthcare construction projects can be a daunting process. The current design and construction trend in the healthcare industry is to accelerate the project schedule to minimize disruption in services on the existing campus. This is often accomplished by the […]

Continuous Commissioning® of a LEED-EB Gold Certified Office Building

A 320,000 square foot Class A high-rise office building in Nashville, TN achieved LEED-EB Gold Certification. LEED-EB version 2.0 was utilized, which requires Retro-Commissioning (RCx) as a prerequisite for certification. SSRCx performed the RCx services during the LEED-EB performance period, and was contracted after building certification to utilize the Continuous Commissioning® (CC®)1 process to seek […]

What About Day 2? Transitioning from Construction to Operations

Construction projects have standard approaches and processes. Facility operations, management and compliance also have standard approaches and processes. Many hospitals lack a solid process of transitioning from a construction project to operations and compliance. This affects the staff’s ability to manage systems and puts the hospital at risk of noncompliance with codes, standards, rules and […]

Existing Buildings: The Biggest Opportunity to Reduce Energy Consumption

The biggest opportunity for greening buildings is with our existing building stock. There are a tremendous number of existing buildings, tens of millions, a far greater number than what is being designed and constructed in any given year. Additionally, the majority of this existing building stock was designed and constructed decades ago, at a time […]

Taking care of business: How hospital electrical shutdowns can facilitate emergency management

Managing hospital electrical shutdowns is more important than ever in light of increasing concern about the impact electrical power outages can have on hospital operations. Electrical distribution equipment requires regular repair or maintenance, yet often this critical work is deferred because it is too difficult for the hospital facility director to get clinical permission to […]

Greening the Healthcare Industry

Healthcare and the environment are two of the hottest topics for discussion right now, especially with highly contested presidential campaigns this summer. For those of us in the construction industry, the two come together as the healthcare market and represent one of the largest market segments, but one of the slowest to adapt to the […]

Economic & Design Considerations for Membrane Filtration at a Lime Softening Plant

The city of Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department (MWSD) currently operates a 15.6-mgd lime softening–mixed media filtration plant to provide drinking water to approximately 25,000 customers. The plant has operated well over the past 40 years. However, stricter regulations coupled with concerns over aging filtration underdrains motivated city personnel to consider alternative filtration technologies to […]

Planning for Power Failures

Introduction Without power healthcare facilities are extremely vulnerable, especially if it is for an extended period of time. Every healthcare facility needs to have a plan in place and be prepared since there is rarely a warning before loss of power except in cases where a slow-moving hurricane or similar natural disaster is approaching. The […]

Smoke Control In Health Care Facilities – Part 2

To continue with the smoke control theme, more questions arise, such as: How are exits and atriums kept reasonably smoke-free, and how does all of this tie in with the building system? Also, where does this all end? The answers are not all that difficult, but do take some careful thought, planning, and discussion. As […]

Powering Down: An orderly process for switching off hospital electrical equipment

An electrical shutdown is a carefully managed process whereby electrical equipment is switched off for various reasons, including crucial maintenance, training, expansion and repair; and then turned back on again with minimal impact to patients. Electrical shutdowns can be performed safely and hospitals can gain added benefits from their electrical shutdowns if they also use […]

Managing Hospital Emergency Power Programmes

A hospital can have a simple or complex emergency power supply system (EPSS) but ensuring that the system continues contributing to safe and effective patient care with today’s challenges is rarely simple. Complexity is introduced because the EPSS powers other hospital systems such as the clinical, mechanical, vertical transportation and fire management systems. The hospital […]