Erdman Anthony provided design services for the renovation and expansion of the 90,000-square-foot student union complex at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York. The renovation and addition were designed to create a central hub for student activities and to unify the existing student union services. The union is home to several student organizations and consists of a lobby, large meeting rooms, an auditorium, professional offices, retail space, recreation rooms, and the dining marketplace. The student union complex connects the east and west ends of the campus and acts as a central gathering point for students. Erdman Anthony provided engineering design for the HVAC, electrical, fire protection, and plumbing systems. The design team evaluated multiple options for each system, including the HVAC systems to confirm that comfort conditioning and ventilation rates were met for the wide variety of occupancy types and uses intended for the building. Detailed energy modeling was performed to evaluate each of the alternatives fully. Some of the unique design features included:
The design of the atrium smoke control system was based on the extensive study of the atrium’s geometry, of the adjacent spaces, and of potential fire scenarios so that a tenable evacuation environment could be provided during a fire.