UMASS Memorial Health, Fitchburg, MA
Healthcare & Outpatient facility| Alteration| Compliance with AHSRAE 170 and FGI guidelines| Integration with existing building MEP infrastructure and BMS system
SAI provided comprehensive MEP design services for the renovation of an existing office area into new outpatient examination rooms at UMass Memorial Health. The project required careful coordination between new healthcare spaces and the utilizing existing building infrastructure, with an emphasis on health care code compliance, constructability, system integration, and cost-conscious design.
SAI designed modifications to the existing HVAC system to support the new outpatient exam rooms and meet applicable healthcare ventilation requirements, including ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 and the 2022 FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Outpatient Facilities. The design addressed required air changes, ventilation, and environmental conditions while utilizing the existing building infrastructure wherever practical. ASHRAE 170 provides healthcare-specific criteria including air changes, pressure relationships, filtration, temperature, and humidity requirements.
The HVAC modifications were also designed to integrate with the existing Building Management System (BMS), allowing the new systems to work seamlessly with the facility’s existing controls and operations.
The plumbing system was modified to accommodate new clinical handwashing sinks within the exam rooms, while coordinating with the existing building plumbing infrastructure and maintaining a practical, efficient installation approach.
SAI designed electrical design for the renovated spaces in accordance with the applicable NEC requirements and healthcare/outpatient facility standards, including power distribution and electrical provisions required to support the new exam rooms and associated equipment.
The overall design focused on providing the client with a healthcare-compliant, practical, and cost-conscious MEP solution. Rather than designing the renovation as an entirely new system, SAI evaluated the existing infrastructure and developed modifications that could be efficiently integrated into the facility.