Geary Engineering provided the mechanical, electrical and fire protection engineering services for the new dialysis facility located in southwest Lincoln for the Dialysis Center of Lincoln. The southwest site is the third location in Lincoln and compliments their existing facilities on East O Street and in northwest Lincoln. The facility is 13,000 square feet and initially provides twelve dialysis stations. The building is designed to allow for the expansion of twelve additional treatment stations.

The mechanical systems are high efficiency gas-fired commercial furnaces with high efficiency condensing units. The furnaces were installed in a mechanical mezzanine which allows for easy maintenance of the mechanical equipment without interruption to the medical facility. The condensing units are hidden on the roof with easy access from the mechanical mezzanine. Fresh air for the entire facility is provided by energy recovery units which continuously exhaust air from the building and bring in fresh air that is distributed to the furnaces. Ninety percent of the thermal energy exhausted from the building is captured by the energy recovery units and returned to the building. Separate HVAC systems were designed for the patient care areas so that the patients could be kept warmer than the remainder of the treatment area. Individual ceiling mounted radiant heating panels were designed for addition comfort to the patients.

The plumbing design included the specialized piping to the dialysis treatment stations. A centralized oxygen supply system with piping to each station provides oxygen directly to the patients. The facility is protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system.

The electrical system is designed to meet the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code provides a highly efficient lighting system with energy efficient fluorescent lighting and motion sensor lighting controls in all areas. An on site electrical generator provides emergency backup power so the facility can continue to operate in the event of a power failure. The electrical design also included the layout of the data and communications wiring which included the patient data system, Internet, telephone and cable TV.

Geary Engineering, Inc. provided the mechanical and electrical engineering services for the construction of a new theater complex at Village Point in Omaha, Nebraska. The mechanical and electrical systems included the HVAC, fire sprinkler, plumbing, power, lighting, storm drainage, fire alarm and sound systems. The theater has sixteen auditoriums that seat a total of 3,270 people with a large main lobby and projection level. The largest auditorium holds 366 seats and the smallest holds 88 seats. The build is a total of 73,500 sq. ft with a budget cost of $6,500,000.00.

The theater complex is heating and cooled with roof top units that are specifically designed for assembly areas. The roof top units are located on the roof in a manner to eliminate objectionable noise in the auditoriums. There is sound attenuation insulation and sound isolation roof curbs included as part of the installation. The rooftop units that serve the auditoriums are equipped with hot gas reheat dehumidification controls. The dehumidification is required due to the large number of people and the enormous load variation when the theaters are unoccupied. Each auditorium has a dedicated rooftop unit with four temperature sensors and a master programable thermostat located at a central location on the projection level.

The plumbing systems include central rest rooms and satellite rest rooms in each section of the theater. A wet pipe fire sprinkler system provides protection to the entire structure. The concession area includes soda piping, floor sinks, wash sinks and connections to food service equipment.

The building is served with a 277/480 volt electrical distribution system. There is a 1600 amp main service with distribution panels located throughout the theater. Step-down transformers are provided at the sub-panels for the projection equipment. The fire alarm system has voice annunciation integrated with the projectors and sound system to met National Fire Protection Association requirements.

Theatrical luminaries were used in the Lobby to highlight the 3D display models above the concession area. Highly efficient compact flourescent lighting was used throughout the interior of the building. The exterior lighting consists of high intensity discharge luminaries to the light the facade and to blend with the surrounding buildings.

Architect: Dennis J. Lyon, Architects

Square Feet: 15,700 Square Feet

Construction Budget: $1,250,000.00

The Nebraska Center for Excellence in Electronics is a facility designed for the testing of all electrical and electronic equipment to meet manufacturing and compliance requirements.  The facility will provide testing for electronics hardware and industry certification, applying research of new production technology and training for industry professionals.

Research for the design of the building included reviewing installations at several local electronic manufacturing companies and the UL Testing lab in Chicago.  The final design was a coordinated effort of representatives from the electronics manufacturers and architectural/engineering design team.

The mechanical systems have commercial horizontal fan coil units with high efficient filters and humidifiers for each zone throughout the facility.  Cooling is provided by unitary air conditioners with DX coils for each of the fan coil units.  The mechanical equipment was located on a mechanical mezzanine to allow service and maintenance of the equipment without disruptions to the testing equipment.

The testing area had an overhead grid system to provide power, lighting, communications and data wiring to the test equipment below.

A major feature of the testing area is a 10 meter anechoic chamber for EMI testing of electronic and electric equipment.

A 50 Hz. Generator and power distribution was designed for testing of electronic equipment for international manufacturers.

Other electrical systems include transient voltage surge suppression, reference grounding grid, data and communications wireways, electronic access controls, lightning protection system, and energy efficient lighting.  The electrical systems were designed to provide flexibility for adding and changing testing equipment in the future as technologies change.

Geary Engineering, Inc. provided the mechanical and electrical engineering services for the renovations to an existing facility to convert a psychiatric hospital into a seminary for St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Nebraska.  After the renovations were completed, Geary Engineering, Inc.  provided the engineering services for the Chapel, Library and Classroom additions.  The existing facility was approximately 35,000 square feet.  The Library and Classroom addition consisted of approximately 12,800 square feet for the library, support areas, classrooms, restrooms and mechanical room.  The Chapel addition involved remodeling 6,800 square feet and an addition of 4,200 square feet for administrative offices, and a new chapel of approximately 8,800 square feet.  The budget cost of the entire project was $6,500,000.00.

The existing building had roof top units.  These roof top units were left in place to serve the existing facility.  For the Chapel, Library and Classroom, new HVAC systems were provided.  The Chapel is served by a constant volume air handling system.  The system is design to run at two different speeds.  The low speed is for low occupancies when very few people are in the Chapel.   The high speed is for the occasions when a large number of people are in the Chapel.  The heating and cooling systems for the Chapel were designed to operate at less than an NC rating of 20.

The Library and Classrooms are served with a variable air volume system with VAV boxes and reheat coils.  New boilers provide heating for the Chapel, Library and Classrooms.  Each of the air handling units have air-cooled condensers to provide air conditioning.

Custom designed lighting fixtures were designed for the Chapel.  A low voltage control system controls the lighting throughout the Chapel and provides an unlimited number of lighting schemes.  The control system also allows four different preset scenes.

The existing electrical service was increased to handle the entire facility.  The existing main switchboard was reused and expanded for the new expanded facility.

Geary Engineering, Inc. provided the mechanical and electrical engineering for the indoor air quality improvements for St. Joseph Catholic Church.  The project began as an evaluation of the existing HVAC systems.  Evaluations of the existing systems resulted in recommendations to replace the old two- pipe heating and chilled water system with a geothermal heat pump system.  Energy calculations indicated a payback period of about 12 years based on the energy savings of the geothermal system.  The recommendations presented to the Building Committee were accepted and Geary Engineering, Inc. was selected to complete the engineering design for the new HVAC systems.

The existing boilers, chiller, pumps, fan coil units and unit ventilators were removed.  The new HVAC equipment was designed to go into the spaces vacated by the existing equipment.

The geothermal heating and cooling system was designed for the existing classroom areas of the building.  The well field and main piping was sized for future classrooms to be connected to the system.  The well field consists of 90, 200 feet deep geothermal wells.  Horizontal heat pumps were used above the classroom ceiling where possible.  Unit ventilator type heat pumps were used in some locations where ceiling access was not possible.  Vertical heat pumps were used to replace existing air handling units.

New roof top units were designed for the gymnasium to replace the obsolete units.  The new units are designed with a sound isolation roof curb to eliminate the noise in the gymnasium.  Out door air dampers are designed to allow outside air for cooling when conditions allow.

Energy recovery units were designed to exhaust air from the bathrooms and to distribute the air to the individual heat pumps.

The pneumatic control system was deemed obsolete and was replaced with a new DDC control system.  All of the new circulation pumps and heat pumps are connected to the new controls along with all of the mechanical equipment in the existing church.  The maintenance staff will have control over all systems within the school and church from a workstation located at their desk.  The control system also allows for control from a remote Internet site.

Owner: Chateau Development Corp.

Architect: Sinclair Hille Architects

Square Feet: 60,000 Square Feet

The Park One Office Building was constructed as a Class 1 premier office space for Lincoln, Nebraska. The office building overlooks Holmes Lake and provides one of the best office locations in Lincoln.

The first and second floors of the Park One Office Building are heated and cooled with fan coil units.  The fan coil units are located above the finished ceiling and serves approximately 1500 square feet.

Each fan coil unit provides 1950 cfm of air, nominal 5 tons of cooling and 34,400 BTU’s of heating.  The fan coil units are all electric and are connected to the electrical meter for each tenant area.  Each fan coil unit has a thermostat strategically located in the tenant space.  Five ton air-conditioning units are located on the roof with refrigerant piping to DX cooling coils located in each fan coil unit.

The third and fourth floors are heated and cooled with roof top units.  The roof top units are located on the roof with ductwork extending to the tenant spaces on third and fourth floors.  Each roof top unit serves approximately 1500 square feet.

Each roof top unit provides 1950 cfm of air, nominal 5 tons of cooling and 92,000 BTU’s of heating.  The roof top units are gas heating with electric cooling and are connected to the gas and electrical meters for each tenant spaces.  Each roof top unit has a thermostat which will be strategically located in the tenant space.  Each roof top unit provides fresh air to the tenant spaces and are equipped with economizers to provide free cooling when outdoor air conditions allow.

The heating is supplemented with perimeter electric baseboard heating units located below the windows.  Each baseboard heater will be controlled from a thermostat mounted on the wall of the perimeter office.  The perimeter heating will provide additional comfort to the perimeter offices while cooling from the roof top units is required for the interior spaces.

Fresh air is provided to the space to provide quality indoor air for all tenants.  The fresh air is brought in through the roof top units.  The HVAC system also meets the requirements of the Uniform Building Cold for fresh air.  15 cfm per person of fresh air is provided.  For the purposes of the design, an occupant load of one person for every 100 square feet was used.

The HVAC systems are designed to provide an indoor air environment of 72 degrees at 50% relative humidity.

A 100-amp single phase panel is provided for each 1500 square feet of floor area throughout the entire building.

Geary Engineering, Inc. provided the mechanical and electrical engineering services for the office addition to the Lower Platte South NRD Offices at 3125 Portia, Lincoln, Nebraska.  The project is briefly described as a 3,600 square foot addition (lower and upper floors) with revisions to the existing building.

The Lower Platte NRD expressed a desire to provide an energy efficient building using “Green” components as much as possible.  Geothermal heat pumps were recommended for the addition and to modify the existing HVAC systems in the original building (excluding the 1994 addition).  The geothermal heat pump system would involve geothermal wells located on the north side of the building with piping extended into a pump room in the building.  A total of 19 geothermal wells located under the parking lot provide the source for heating and cooling the building.  Individual water source heat pumps are located to serve the designated zones.  The existing two furnaces and ductwork in the original building were replaced with heat pumps.

The Owner also wanted storm water retention on site even though it was not required by codes.  A small retention basin with natural plantings was design to catch the runoff from the parking lot.

Other “Green” building components designed into the building include motion sensor lighting controls, atrium for day lighting, T-5 lamps, dual flush toilets, water saving faucets and insulated ducts and piping.

A new fire sprinkler system was designed for the existing building and the addition. Areas requiring sprinklers included the addition, original building and the attic spaces.  The fire sprinkler piping in the existing building needed to be installed in soffits, in the attic, or be exposed in the space being served.  The computer server room was designed with a dry chemical release system.

Owner: Seventieth Street Properties

Architect: Findley & Associates

Square Feet: 37,800 Square Feet

The Lincoln Surgery Center Medical Office Building provides office space for medical professionals in close proximity to the Lincoln Surgical Hospital.  The office building has three levels with medical offices on the upper two floors.  The lower level provides mechanical equipment rooms and general storage area for the tenants.  Geary Engineering, Inc. provided the engineering design services for the shell construction of the building and for the medical offices that occupy the building.  Tenants of the Medical Office Building include plastic surgeons, gastroenterologists, orthopaedics, endoscopy services, laboratory and pathology testing services.  An overnight-stay area provides a place for patients and family to stay when there are complications with surgical procedures.

The Medical Office Building is heated and cooled with fan coil units.  The fan coil units are located in two separate mechanical rooms on the lower level and in two mechanical penthouses above the second level.  Each tenant space has their own electrical and gas meters.

The fan coil units have gas fired heat exchangers for heating with DX coils for cooling.  Each fan coil unit has a thermostat strategically located in the tenant space.  Air cooled condensing units are located on the roof and on the car port with refrigerant piping to each fan coil unit.

Several of the medical offices required medical gas systems.  A central medical gas system was designed for the entire building.  The medical gas canisters are located in a medical gas storage room in the lower level.  Oxygen, vacuum, medical air and nitrogen gases are provided.  The gases are manifolded together and provide service to three different tenants.  There are monitors and alarms located in each of the tenant spaces that use these gases.

The Medical Office Building has an emergency generator to provide power to critical areas in the event of a power failure.  The emergency generator provides power to emergency lighting throughout the building and power to the minor procedure rooms on first floor.  Emergency power is also provided to the overnight stay patient rooms.

Geary Engineering designed an NFPA 13 fire sprinkler system to provide 100% coverage for the entire building.  A fire detection and alarm system provides early warning to the tenants in the event of a fire.

Geary Engineering, Inc. provided the mechanical and electrical engineering for the addition and renovations to the existing Courthouse for Holt County. The project started with master planning to evaluate the existing systems and provide an analysis of proposed systems. The addition to the Courthouse provides additional space for the county offices, ADA access to all levels, secure access for law enforcement and additional exiting as required by the State Fire Marshall.

The existing steam boiler and steam radiator heating system was replaced with a ground coupled heat pump system. The window air conditioners were also removed. The heat pump system required 92 wells, which are located below the parking lot south of the Courthouse. The wells are connected at a vault with headers before entering the building. The heat pump water is pumped through the building to 69 heat pumps. Console, horizontal and vertical type heat pumps were used depending on the application.

ADA accessible rest rooms were provided in the addition. The existing rest rooms in the Courthouse were restored to their original character. A new high efficient gas fired water heater was installed to serve the entire building.

Fire and life safety improvements included a fire sprinkler system, a new fire alarm system, ADA strobes, exit and emergency lighting. A new emergency generator was provided for the emergency lighting systems. The generator also serves the jail and the emergency operations center located on the third floor.

A new electrical service was designed to serve the entire building. The electrical improvements included new branch circuit panels, new light fixtures and new receptacles. High efficiency T-8 lamps with electronic ballasts were used. All new wiring was provided throughout the building to replace the obsolete wiring.

New data (Cat. 5e) and communication wiring was installed to all existing and new outlets. The wiring was routed to a central data closet. The old wiring was stripped from the building. A CCTV system was design to provide security to the building and to assist in control access to the jail located on the third floor. Secure doors are controlled from the jail and the emergency operations center.

Geary Engineering, Inc. provided the mechanical, electrical and fire protection engineering for Lincoln’s premiere downtown theater complex. The theater has 70,000 square feet, 14 screens with a total of 2979 seats. The largest theater is 410 seats. The entrance from P Street brings movie goers into an expansive two story lobby that sets the atmosphere for a “Grand” experience as the patron is drawn to the concessions, game room, party rooms and to the movies beyond. A second story mezzanine provides space for projectors.

The Theatre is heated and cooled with an all electric heat pump system. The highly efficient heat pump system was selected to take advantage of Lincoln Electric System’s low rates. The heat pump system will provide substantial energy saving when compared to conventional gas fired systems. Packaged roof top heat pump units are located on the roof. The units are mounted on specially designed acoustical roof curbs to prevent noise from the roof top unit from disrupting the movie experience. With the large load variation from fully occupied to an unoccupied movie house, the heating and cooling system needed the capability to cool and dehumidify the theaters. Dehumidifying is provided by hot gas reheat coils in the roof top heat pumps utilizing the wasted energy from the cooling cycle of the heat pumps.

Large rest rooms are provided off of the Grand Lobby. Additional rest room facilities are located in each section of the theater to provide easy access from each theater. The concession area includes soda piping, floor sinks, wash sinks and connections to food service equipment. The Grand Theatre is fully protected with an NFPA 13 system fire sprinkler system. Other fire protection and life safety features are emergency lighting and a voice activated fire alarm system designed for assembly occupancies.

The building is served with a 277/480 volt electrical distribution system. There is a 1600 amp main service for the electric heating and a 1200 amp main service for lighting and power with distribution panels located throughout the theater. Step-down transformers are provided at the subpanels for the projection equipment. The fire alarm system has voice annunciation integrated with the projectors and sound system to meet National Fire Protection Association requirements.