Category: Courthouses

The original courthouse was built in 1907.  A complete renovation included demolition of an adjacent addition, repair and replacement of windows, roofing, exterior stonework, reconfiguration of the interior walls, installation of an elevator, and upgrade to ADA standards.  The mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection design involved a complete gut and replacement of all systems.  It was desired to maintain the original high ceilings.  This became a challenge to provide air conditioning without available duct space.  Two air handlers provided the cooling—one located in the attic to serve the Second floor, and one in the basement to serve the First floor.  The air handling system is variable air volume with hydronic reheat coils.  In addition to this source of heat, the original cast iron steam radiators were converted to hot water and continue to be used.  Cast iron registers were used throughout the facility to be in tune with the 1907 architecture.  The plumbing and fire protection systems are all new and modern.

The Human Services Building was new construction to house various social service organizations within the county.  The three story office building with atrium utilized an 80-ton variable air volume (VAV) direct expansion (DX) air-handling unit.  High efficiency modular boilers were installed for hot water reheat coils.  In addition to mechanical systems, lighting, plumbing, fire protection, electrical and fire detection systems were designed.  The controls are direct digital controls (DDC) and communicate back to the engineer’s office in Boulder for monitoring and adjustment.

An in depth study of the Federal Court House was performed for the General Services Administration.  The purpose of the studies was to determine the condition of the historic buildings and to make recommendations and cost estimates for the upgrades of the buildings so that they would remain viable for the next 25 years.  These recommendations were forwarded to the Federal Legislature to encumber funding for future renovation projects.  Architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical consultants were retained to assist in these involved studies.  Items which were investigated were the current status and conditions of various systems and upgrades required to meet safety and building codes, upgrades necessary for comfort, and general building repair and restoration as the building was a registered historic landmark.  Systems studied included:

Americans with Disabilities Act compliance
Fire protection and Fire detection
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
Power, lighting, emergency power
Structural condition
Civil concerns including drainage and site requirements
General building condition
Addition of elevators, and other access issues

An in depth study of the Federal Court House was performed for the General Services Administration.  The purpose of the studies was to determine the condition of the historic buildings and to make recommendations and cost estimates for the upgrades of the buildings so that they would remain viable for the next 25 years.  These recommendations were forwarded to the Federal Legislature to encumber funding for future renovation projects.  Architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical consultants were retained to assist in these involved studies.  Items which were investigated were the current status and conditions of various systems and upgrades required to meet safety and building codes, upgrades necessary for comfort, and general building repair and restoration as the building was a registered historic landmark.  Systems studied included:

Americans with Disabilities Act compliance
Fire protection and Fire detection
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
Power, lighting, emergency power
Structural condition
Civil concerns including drainage and site requirements
General building condition, Elevators and access

An in depth study of the Federal Court House was performed for the General Services Administration.  The purpose of the studies was to determine the condition of the historic buildings and to make recommendations and cost estimates for the upgrades of the buildings so that they would remain viable for the next 25 years.  These recommendations were forwarded to the Federal Legislature to encumber funding for future renovation projects.  Architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical consultants were retained to assist in these involved studies.  Items which were investigated were the current status and conditions of various systems and upgrades required to meet safety and building codes, upgrades necessary for comfort, and general building repair and restoration as the building was a registered historic landmark.  Systems studied included:

Americans with Disabilities Act compliance
Fire protection and Fire detection
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
Power, lighting, emergency power
Structural condition
Civil concerns including drainage and site requirements
General building condition
Addition of elevators, and other access issues

An in depth study of the Federal Court House was performed for the General Services Administration. The purpose of the studies was to determine the condition of the historic buildings and to make recommendations and cost estimates for the upgrades of the buildings so that they would remain viable for the next 25 years. These recommendations were forwarded to the Federal Legislature to encumber funding for future renovation projects.

Architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical consultants were retained to assist in these involved studies. Items which were investigated were the current status and conditions of various systems and upgrades required to meet safety and building codes, upgrades necessary for comfort, and general building repair and restoration as the building was a registered historic landmark.

Systems studied included:

• Americans with Disabilities Act compliance
• Fire protection and Fire detection
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
• Power, lighting, emergency power
• Structural condition
• Civil concerns including drainage and site requirements
• General building condition
• Addition of elevators, and other access issues

The Boulder County Justice Center houses the County Judiciary System with all of its courtrooms. Also housed within the Justice Center is the District Attorney, The Sheriffs Department, Juvenile Detention, Victims Assistance, and other departments. These are some of the projects we have been involved with over the years:

1. 1. Technical Energy Audit: DOE sponsored ICP audit which has resulted in many energy conserva­tion measures being implemented.
   2. Chilled Water Retrofit: Installation of variable speed drives on the chilled water pumps, and two-way valves on the chilled water coils at the air-hand­ling units for more efficient chilled water usage.
   3. Variable Air Volume Retrofit: Conversion of the constant volume air-handling units to variable air volume, by the addition of variable speed drives at the air-handling units and variable air volume devices at the terminal reheat units.
   4. Cogeneration Facility: 325 kilowatt prime mover for the simulta­neous produc­tion of heat and electricity. During the summertime, heat is used in absorption chillers; in winter, for building heat. Domestic hot water is heated year-round.
   5. HVAC Overhaul, Jail Area: Currently, the detention area is being converted from a jail into office area since a new jail facility has been constructed. The entire HVAC (and plumbing, electrical, and fire protection) systems are being radically retrofitted with new air hand­lers, alterations to the existing air handlers, and completely new distribution systems. Eventually, the entire Justice Center will be retrofitted.
   6. Energy Management System: All of the above projects have fit within the expand­ing facility automation system, which controls all of the HVAC systems and the cogenera­tion facility. The user interface of the system resides in the County Engineer’s office approximately one mile away. Savings in energy usage, in addition to far better control on comfort, have resulted with the facility automa­tion system. It is currently being expanded to other County-owned build­ings.
   7. Data Communications Electrical Design: Boulder County retrofitted the old jail into office space for the District Attorney, Public Works, and Juvenile Detention. The offices could use any one of seven different computer systems owned by the County. In order to provide flexibility, every office was fitted with a modular tap box into which four telephone lines and four data lines were run. These lines from each office were run to satellite closets that contained punch-down blocks, equipment racks, and LAN controllers. From the satellite closets, the proper type cable for each system was run back to the computer room.

A complete retrofit of this historic building (formerly the Elks Lodge) precipitated a complete mechanical and electrical renovation of the building. A new variable air volume direct expansion (DX) air handling unit was installed which will eventually serve the entire building and make the mixture of equipment currently obsolete. Variable air volume boxes with hydronic reheat coils were utilized. The domestic water system was upgraded and the new spaces were fire sprinkled.