February 2, 2004—Des Moines Area Community College West Campus was recently awarded a first-place Technology Award from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Renowned for being one of the first educational institutions in the country to integrate handheld computers in the classroom, the college won the award for the design of its innovative underfloor system.
The design features a raised floor system to allow power and telecommunication cords to be easily accessible from any area of the room. This allows flexibility in room layout and creates a clean appearance and a safer environment. To make use of the raised floor and to eliminate ductwork in the classrooms, an underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system was used for heating and cooling.
The UFAD system was installed in flexible classrooms that have a 12-inch raised floor system. Each classroom has a downflow heat pump that supplies air to the sealed plenum below the floor. This system uses variable air volume floor diffusers that can be easily moved and adjusted. An in-floor radiant heating system using heating water supplied by water-to-water heat pumps was installed in the concrete floor of common areas and vestibules.
System designer David Inghram, P.E., senior project engineer at KJWW Engineering Consultants, Des Moines, Iowa, said, “This provides warmth and comfort at the floor of these high ceiling areas without requiring exposed perimeter-heating equipment,” Inghram said. “Several occupants have commented that the building interior climate remains consistent and comfortable during all weather conditions.” Inghram earned first place in the new institutional buildings category.
The campus also incorporates a geothermal water source heat pump system using a four-acre pond on the campus. This system, combined with other energy saving features, resulted in a tremendous reduction of energy costs compared to those of a typical building, according to Inghram. The HVAC system reduced energy costs associated with operating the facility by 43 percent.
Opened in 2001, the campus is almost completely paperless and wireless. Students use handheld computers for classroom learning and instructional delivery, e-mail, and Web surfing. Faculty members make notes on smartboards as they instruct and then print those notes for students at the end of class.
The ASHRAE Technology Awards recognize outstanding achievements by members who have successfully applied innovative building design in the areas of occupant comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy conservation. Their designs incorporate ASHRAE standards for effective energy management and IAQ. Performance is proven through one year’s actual, verifiable operating data.
