This
550,000 square foot courthouse features a 15-story court
tower, a 6-story office wing and a 2-story public cafeteria.
The project’s systems meet the client’s
requirements for flexibility, ease of operation, energy
efficiency and optimal occupant comfort and indoor air
quality. Cosentini specified a high efficiency, floor-by-floor
variable air volume (VAV) air distribution system. Low
temperature supply air is distributed to VAV fan powered
terminal units that maintain constant air motion in
the occupied space. The fan powered terminal units,
through the induction of warmer above-ceiling plenum
air, incorporate a heat recovery feature for use in
perimeter space heating prior to the energizing of heating
coils. The refrigeration system is provided with a water
side economizer for energy conservation. Minneapolis
has an extremely cold winter climate and stack effect
mitigation is always a concern. After start up, the
building experienced cold drafts in the building’s
service areas that were addressed by proper balancing
of the outside air that was introduced into the cellar
levels to pressurize the space and counteract the drafts.
Once these systems were fully operational and
balanced, the draft problem was mitigated. A state-of-the-art
Building Automation System (composed of a direct digitally
controlled energy management system, a building-wide
security system and a fire alarm/life safety system)
was also included. The entire facility was designed
to meet Federal guidelines set forth in the U.S. Marshal’s
Standards, PBS-PQ.100, Court Design Guide.
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