Brown University, one of the most prestigious, historic Universities in the United States, partnered with AKF's MEP/FP team to design for their new 92,000 SF ground-up athletic complex that offers students and faculty a wide variety of exercise opportunities. The facility includes a varsity athletic strength and conditioning space, a state-of-the-art student fitness area, dance studios, and a 51,000 SF natatorium. The Olympic-sized swimming pool is one of the largest NCAA pools in the Northeast, holding one-million-gallons of water.
The pool in particular required AKF’s expertise; the pool HVAC system maintains a space temperature of 82°F and 55% relative humidity, with a pool water temperature of 80°F. The system delivers 70,000 CFM of air from ductwork contained within the structural roof truss system. Low returns incorporated in the ductwork capture chlorine-laden air from the pool surface.
The project achieved LEED® NC Gold Certification, with sustainable design solutions such as using heat rejected from the pool HVAC units to provide more than 60% of the pool water heating requirements. Other strategies include high efficiency natural gas-fired boilers, air side energy recovery and economizer, variable speed pumping for both the hot water systems and chilled water systems, and a building automation system (BAS).
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