University of Memphis FedEx Center

Project Summary

Flintco Construction Services
Memphis, Tennessee

Project Type:
University Laboratory and Classroom

Size:
95,100 Square Feet

Year Occupied:
2004

Project Details

The University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology consists of a four story building housing classrooms, presentation rooms, computer laboratories and offices connected to a two-story full media lecture hall. The project included the commissioning of four floors conditioned by an underfloor variable air volume (VAV) air distribution system, two traditional overhead VAV systems, one constant volume system, four computer room air conditioning systems, an 800 ton variable speed centrifugal water-cooled chiller with primary-secondary pumping, four variable flow high efficiency boilers, a campus tie-in to steam and chilled water and a full DDC building automation system.

Project Highlights

The building incorporates an innovative and complex mechanical system including an underfloor air distribution VAV system on four floors, two traditional overhead VAV systems, and one traditional overhead constant volume system on other floors. In addition, four computer / electronic laboratories had dedicated air conditioning systems, with all cooling being provided by an 800 ton variable speed centrifugal water-cooled chiller with primary - secondary pumping. Heating was provided by four variable flow high efficiency boilers, and the entire building is tied into the campus-wide steam and chilled water system.

Challenges arose to effectively seal the plenum space of the underfloor air distribution system, and design and implement an appropriate and effective control strategy to provide optimal comfort and energy efficient operation. The on-site chiller was significantly oversized for the building's cooling load, anticipating that it would be used for future campus building cooling requirements. This created noise problems as the chiller operated at the low end of the part-load efficiency curve. However, with proper run-in and maintenance the chiller performance has improved.