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Project Pipeline - Institutional
The Technological Marvels Aren’t Just in the Classrooms
Gull Lake High School
Richland, Michigan
Project Type:
Institutional
Work Performed: Hydronics, HVAC, controls, sheet metal, air, gas, and acid waste piping, water, sanitary drainage, and stormwater management systems
Construction Manager:
Miller-Davis Compange, Kalamazoo, MI
Architect:
Kingscott Architects, Kalamazoo, MI
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 The technological marvels at the new Gull Lake High
School don’t stop with the classrooms and laboratories. Step into the boiler room, and you’ll marvel at the latest advances in heating
and cooling technology that make the new high school a model of efficiency, too.
Five pulse-combustion boilers generate over 2 million BTUs per unit to heat the 220,000 square-foot facility. As Jim Tripp, Contractors Mechanical’s
Field Manager on the project explains, “Pulse combustion technology operates in concept more like the internal combustion engine of a vehicle
rather than conventional boilers. The pulse systems have no burners. Instead, natural gas fills a gas chamber producing a “controlled explosion” every
second, transferring more heat per square inch than conventional processes.” The boilers heat water, pumping it through a hydronic piping
system to heat the building.
Science Labs
The modern two-story science laboratory at Gull Lake High School may rival what you might expect to find in some higher education institutions
or even some commercial testing facilities with extensive capabilities for conducting science experiments and tests.
The large 11-room laboratory features over 80 gas and compressed air connections, 40 laboratory sinks, and 15 fume hoods in containment areas
to conduct controlled experiments. A special acid waste underground piping system is fuse-sealed together, channeling acid waste to a large
separator tank to remove and separate solids from water. Separated water moves to a neutralizing tank for treatment before being expelled into
the sanitary drain water system.
For safety, systems are equipped with key solenoid shutoffs, electronic valve shutoffs, breakers, and panic button shutoffs at teachers’ stations
that activate immediate emergency systems shutdowns.
Noise and vibration produced by pulse boilers is a factor with this type of system. “We installed mufflers on the combustion boiler and
venting systems to mitigate noise. Also, once we had all five boilers positioned, each weighing 6,000 lbs, we lifted them straight up, then
set them back down on spring isolators to help absorb vibration,” says Tripp.
“Every project has its share of interesting challenges, but overall, the project went smooth,” adds Tripp. “A design modification
changed the height of the building, lowering it 2 feet at the top in one-story areas, and 2 feet at both the top and bottom in two-story areas
prior to the start of construction. We re-engineered mechanical systems and reconfigured some installations, including relocating some HVAC,
main ductwork and other mechanical systems, and double and triple hanging lines. Also, it took some conscientious planning to work with the tight
confines of the mechanical room, which in addition to the boilers, houses interior chillers, evaporators, refrigeration piping for the air-conditioning
system, large water softeners, and pumping equipment. Coordinating the sequence of mechanical installations was essential because, once in place,
there was insufficient room to get other equipment past installed equipment.”
 From pre-construction to commissioning of mechanical systems, Contractors Mechanical worked closely with the architect and engineer, Kingscott
Architects, and with the construction manager, Miller-Davis Company, whose Project Manager Doug Klann and Project Superintendent Brett Verner
were overseeing the project. Contractors Mechanical recently completed the $4.925 million in plumbing, heating, and process piping work; and
the total project completion is slated for summer, in time for start of the 2007-2008 school year.
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