Located in Edmonton, Alberta, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is one of Canada’s top research colleges and polytechnics. NAIT offers over 120 credited programs and teaches over 20,000 part-time and full-time students each year. Located on NAIT’s main campus, the O Building (also known as the central building) houses the Common Market and Cafeteria, Health Services and several administrative services offices. Through a grant funded by the Government of Alberta, NAIT was able to secure $8.13M to upgrade the heating, ventilation and cooling systems in the O Building.
Williams Engineering (WE) has partnered with GEC Architecture as the Prime Consultant to provide mechanical, electrical, and structural consulting engineering services for the required upgrades to the O Building. Phase 1 is currently in construction, and Phase 2 has completed tender. Select mechanical systems are being replaced and upgraded in the administrative core, North and South Lobby, Common Market and also the Culinary and Food Services kitchens. Air handling units and air make-up air units are being replaced along with the addition of demand control kitchen ventilation to select kitchen exhaust hoods. Existing steam heating systems are being converted to glycol systems with natural gas condensing boilers. Waste heat from the central refrigeration rack system is recovered and used to preheat incoming fresh air.
The results of these upgrades will provide increased air quality and comfort for NAIT’s students, benefit the overall ventilation of the building and remedy the existing building pressurization issues. This project provides an excellent opportunity for energy savings, improved building comfort, and effectively reduces the risk of mechanical equipment failure.
