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Denison University's Burton D. Morgan Center Denison University in Granville, Ohio is ranked in the top tier
of “America’s Best Colleges” (U.S. News & World
Report,), and has one of the oldest college alumni organizations
in the country (established in 1846). The university has holdings
of approximately 1,200 acres, including a 250 acre main campus,
extensive recreational and athletic fields, and a 500 acre Biological
Reserve. Dedicated to remaining one of the nation’s top colleges
of liberal arts and sciences, Denison University has recently completed
a three-year $60,000,000 expansion and construction program. The
project includes a new Campus Common that is framed on the east
side by The Morgan Center, a new 65,000 sq. ft. building dedicated
to student, faculty and alumni related activities. Beneath the
new two-acre campus commons green space is a 360-car parking garage
and loading dock.
The Morgan Center contains a variety of technology intensive classroom,
seminar, multi-function and video-conferencing areas.
Syska Hennessy Group provided all mechanical, electrical, plumbing
and fire protection services as well as a campus-wide central utility
master plan and associated design.
Understanding the complex architecture and the high-visibility
of this building and the fact that it resides on an Olmstead Brothers
designed campus, increased our awareness to thoroughly integrate
the MEP systems into the building while providing for a fully functional,
quiet and maintainable end product. To achieve this, the system
designs put the DDC controlled, VAV air handling units indoors
and connected them to the outdoors via louvered, gable-end walls
in the attic mechanical room. In an effort to minimize louvers,
motorized lobby doors act as intake for the atrium exhaust system;
basement level areaways and hillside tunnels are utilized for air
intake and exhaust paths. Heated floor space above the drive-though
underpass provides occupant comfort. A special relay control system
was incorporated to eliminate the need for both stand-alone emergency
lights and bodine-type ballasts. The result was a design solution
that minimizes the visual impact of the MEP systems serving the
building while providing for a comfortable and healthy environment.
This building also acts as a local hub to the campus’ communications
network. Main conduits and cable trays connect the local hub to
adjoining structures. Indirect lighting was utilized throughout
classroom and business oriented spaces.
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