Century Engineering, a Kleinfelder Company, Receives National Recognition from ACEC for West Half MEP Systems Design
HUNT VALLEY, Maryland (June 14, 2023) – Century Engineering, a Kleinfelder Company, (Century-Kleinfelder) was honored on the national stage at the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala for their work on the West Half Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Systems Design. The project achieved a National Recognition Award – a prestigious distinction awarded to projects demonstrating exceptional engineering excellence at the national level.
As a subconsultant to the executive architect, Eric Colbert and Associates PC, Century-Kleinfelder played a vital role in providing MEP systems design and building energy systems support, including energy modeling, for the West Half development project. Situated within the vibrant Ballpark District in Washington, DC, this beautifully crafted 11-story building encompasses 465 dwelling units and nearly 43,000 square feet of first-floor retail space. The unique articulating facade, which steps back on one side and cantilevers outward on the opposite side, presented a series of challenges for the plumbing and other functional systems. To address these complexities, Century-Kleinfelder meticulously coordinated horizontal offsets in the mechanical and plumbing infrastructure, ensuring smooth integration throughout the structure while minimizing the impact to the usable spaces.
The electrical systems design incorporated separately metered utility service for each residence and retail tenant. Additionally, an indoor, water-cooled generator was designed to provide emergency power to select loads, thus maximizing the footprint of the outdoor amenity spaces.
In line with sustainability objectives, a green roof was implemented to facilitate stormwater reclamation. This innovative system effectively stores and redistributes rainwater for irrigation purposes and supplements the water supply for the cooling tower.
As the energy modeler, Century-Kleinfelder achieved an over 30% reduction in energy usage below the baseline by incorporating an energy-efficient envelope and utilizing a high-performing HVAC system. This significant energy reduction played a crucial role in attaining USGBC LEED Gold® certification for the project.
Commenting on this achievement, Matt Steiner, Century-Kleinfelder’s MEP Engineering Manager, expressed his honor and pride, stating, “We are thrilled to have contributed to this award-winning LEED Gold® certified project. While the unique architectural approach of the building pushed boundaries, Century-Kleinfelder’s MEP design showcased that engineering systems need not limit the visionary ideas of brilliant architects and designers.”
Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions. Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm. Kleinfelder employs more than 3,100 professionals and operates from over 105 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California. Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base. Visit Kleinfelder.com or follow us on LinkedIn/Kleinfelder.
