MEP and HVAC Engineering Services

THE PROJECT
The Forum Building is a historic seven-story 375,000-square-foot building consisting of office space, the Forum Auditorium, libraries, and associated archival space. The building is part of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex and is currently designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Erdman Anthony has provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering services for projects at The Forum Building over the past decade, including for sweeping renovations and the installation of EV chargers.

FEATURES/SOLUTIONS
Our firm’s first project at the site entailed cosmetic renovations to the 18,000-square-foot Forum Auditorium, a concert hall that houses the Harrisburg Symphony and hosts other musical events. The MEP and HVAC work included new aisle lighting, seat lighting, associated power, and a temperature/humidity monitoring system, with sensors located throughout the occupied and unoccupied portions of the facility. The sensors were tied to the existing direct digital control system, which enables the owner to trend and evaluate issues relating to moisture and humidity at the facility. 

The second project focused on renovating 180,000 square feet of office space comprising Floors 2 through 5 to house the Department of Education, but also focused on renovations to the State Library, the Law Library, and associated archival space. The building’s entire HVAC system and electrical infrastructure were replaced during the renovation.

The HVAC design services involved all equipment, piping, ductwork, and controls, and the design included a new 500-ton chiller plant and two 3,700-MBH steam-to-hot water heat exchangers to provide central chilled and heating water.

The electrical power design services involved electrical distribution equipment, wiring, and devices for the renovated portions of the building, including replacement of the existing area of protection panels, distribution panels, buss ducts, and branch circuits.

Our firm’s design for the installation of five pedestal-mounted EV chargers, and provisions for 11 more, consisted of a new 480-V electrical feeder from the main double-ended 480-V switchboard to a panelboard dedicated to the chargers. Branch circuits were extended from the 480-V panelboard to the Level 3 chargers and a 225-kVA transformer that feeds an 800-A 208/120-V panelboard that provides branch circuits to the Level 2 chargers.

IMPACTS
The renovation has enabled the Department of Education to house its employees in one building, prompting the commonwealth to cancel several leases for office space. It also has modernized the existing libraries and mitigated the humidity issues that were compromising the auditorium’s existing finishes.

Furthermore, the presence of EV chargers at the building demonstrates Pennsylvania’s commitment to increasing the use of electric vehicles by government staff.

Sustainable Design Impact The EV chargers at the building have helped reduce vehicle emissions and noise while advancing the commonwealth’s goal of making its fleet greener.