An Historical Building Conversion to Research Usage and Post Occupancy Commissioning—Lessons Learned

Teerachai Srisirikul, Partners HealthCare System Inc.
Michael Morrissey, Sebesta Blomberg and McKew, Inc.
David L. Stymiest, P.E., SASHE, CEM, Smith Seckman and Reid, Inc.

Abstract:

Massachusetts General Hospital has a history of research in the Charlestown Navy Yard (CNY). Building 149, a 670,000 SF research facility, has been in use after major renovations for over eight years. A new sister building, CNY Building 114 was completed and the researchers moved into the building about one year ago. The building delivery mode was different than usual. An outside developer who owned the building agreed to do a gut renovation of the historical building, turn it into a state of the art biomedical research facility, and deliver the building on a turn key basis to Massachusetts General Hospital. This was a new approach for the hospital.

Traditionally, the hospital has owned the research space and undertaken construction or renovation efforts via the design, bid, construct through a Construction manager approach. The project did not include a formal commissioning process. A post occupancy commissioning was conducted at the conclusion of this new approach to determine if the building systems met the requirements of its occupants, and to identify punch list or uncompleted items. The effort was very successful as it identified several issues including capacity, workmanship and inappropriate Value Engineering deletions to the scope, and created one monetized list that helped in resolving problems. This presentation will describe the post occupancy commissioning process and lessons learned.

Biographies:

Teerachai Srisirikul (Chai) holds an BS in engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Chai is engineering professional with more than 24 years of experience in mechanical system design, construction and operations. Also he has done numerous utility conservation projects. Chai is a registered professional engineer and is a Certified Energy Manager. In both 2000 and 2001 Chai has won 1st place Technology award from ASHARE Region 1 .

Chai is the Senior Mechanical Engineer at Partners HealthCare Systems, Inc. (PHS). In this role he is responsible for providing technical supports to all affiliate health care providers. At Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) he is responsible for Engineering, Long-range planning, Technical review, Implementation of infrastructure upgrade projects and responsible for all Utility conservation projects.

Michael Morrissey has a B.S. Mechanical Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology. He has work has worked as a Mechanical engineer in the HVAC design field for over 16 years and is a member of ASHRAE.

He is currently employed by Sebesta Blomberg as HVAC design and Commissioning Engineer. He is currently working on commissioning the HVAC systems for the Massachusetts Convention Center Project. In the last several years he has focus on the commissioning process to ensure functional reliability of complex building infrastructures. He has been involved with the commissioning systems at Harvard Medical School, Yale Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical Center and Partners Health Care Building 114.

David Stymiest has a B.S. in Electric Power Engineering and a Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also has a Certificate of Special Studies (C.S.S.) in Administration and Management from Harvard University Extension. He worked as Senior Electrical Engineer for more than 10 years for Massachusetts General Hospital and the other 11 hospitals of the Boston-based Partners HealthCare System, Inc. He has over 29 years of experience in all facets of facilities electrical engineering, also working for Harvard University and Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in four states.

David Stymiest is currently Senior Consultant at Smith Seckman Reid, Inc., specializing in Facilities Engineering for hospital clients. He has managed several building-wide and multi-building power shutdowns in an intensive research and patient care arena, and has developed a comprehensive hospital electrical utility management program. He has written many papers for the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) on hospital electrical system management and engineering, and he co-edited the recently published 1200-page McGraw-Hill Facilities Engineering and Management Handbook for Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Buildings. He is also a primary member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Emergency Power Supplies.