PRESTON E. SMITH HIGH SECURITY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY UNDERGOES BUILDING
COMMISSIONING PROCESS
ARLINGTON, Va. -- To
ensure that the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems for the new
$25 million Preston E. Smith High Security Unit in Lamesa, Texas,
meet all design specifications, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
has tapped Virginia-based EMR, to oversee the building commissioning
process.
Building commissioning
is a systematic method which certifies that a facility performs according
to design intent, is less costly to maintain and meets energy and
operational efficiency goals. EMR, a Virginia-based engineering consulting
firm specializing in facilities commissioning, operations and maintenance,
is writing the commissioning plan and specifications and supervising
the testing and balance (TAB) for the project.
The 660-cell, 226,000-square-foot
high security prison, which will house 1,320 inmates, consists of
high security cells, medical and food service areas and office and
administrative space.
Transfer switching,
emergency generator, lighting and power supply are among the electrical
systems being commissioned. HVAC systems being commissioned include
chillers, air-handling units, variable air volume boxes, pumps, towers,
boilers and smoke and kitchen exhaust systems.
In addition to the HVAC
and electrical systems, EMR will commission pure water, plumbing,
lab waste and domestic water systems.
"The benefits of
commissioning far outweigh the small increase to the initial cost
of the building," says EMR President Naresh Khosla. "Over
the long run, the facility will have lower operating and maintenance
costs since commissioned buildings typically cost eight to twenty
percent less to operate than non-commissioned buildings," adds
Khosla.
EMR also will commission
two other prisons in Texas: the Gib Lewis High Security Unit in Woodville
and the Clements High Security Unit in Amarillo (see related news
releases).
For additional information
on other EMR building commissioning projects, contact Kate Kelly at
(323) 874-3458, or at kkellyemr@aol.com.
