THE CHALLENGE

Originally built in the mid-1930s, Von Steuben didn’t have air conditioning and its boiler system was antiquated. Administrators wanted to improve the learning environment by adding temperature control, but the cost of installing a traditional AC system was cost-prohibitive due to the need for ceiling and lighting upgrades, as well as the possibility of asbestos abatement.

KED SOLUTION

Because of the size of the school, we ruled out a decentralized unit ventilator system. Instead, we chose an exterior chiller that runs chilled water to each classroom — a more economical yet still centralized solution. We also fitted a rooftop unit on the cafeteria, added a cooling coil to the gym air handler and completely upgraded the boiler system. To accommodate these improvements, we brought in new electrical service and used the massive crawl space underneath the school to house most of the piping. New building automation controls allow the facilities team to manage temperature and humidity and diagnose problems remotely.