One of the greatest things about being an engineer is designing systems that impact people and enhance their experiences within a space — which is why our work on the recently completed B.E. Smith Family Center was so rewarding. From the project’s inception, the design team collaborated with educators, therapists, and hospital staff to understand…
Extreme cold spells across the country this winter made it difficult for many buildings to maintain comfortable temperatures. Many street-level tenants of high-rise buildings found it nearly impossible to keep occupants warm despite having thermostats set to maintain comfortable temperatures. In many cases the problem, while fairly common, is not widely understood — it’s known…
Last week, #TeamHenderson attended the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) Midwest Great Lakes and Southwest regional conferences. A common theme among education conferences is an exploration into what we can do as design partners, facility managers, district leaders, educators, etc. to continuously improve the learning experience for students. They’re all about how we can all…
It’s no secret that today’s successful retail brands have evolved; and that evolution has a lot to do with consumer’s definition of convenience. From the earliest examples of bazaars and town squares, to super stores and malls, to today’s two-day shipping and online order pick up, the retail industry has changed based on the consumer’s…
Last week the healthcare construction community came together in Phoenix at #PDCSUMMIT. Issues like the impending USP 797 and 800 deadline, as well as anti-ligature concerns in behavioral health, were, of course, a huge focus for the annual American Society for Healthcare Engineers (ASHE) summit. In addition, we noticed the following trends throughout the education…
Spring training is a nostalgic time of year for professional baseball fans. It’s synonymous with Arizona and Florida sunshine, unprecedented access to players and coaches, and the beginning of a quest for a World Series championship. Behind the scenes, this crucial time of year calls for state-of-the-art facilities and amenities for the top players and…
Medical gas systems serve healthcare facilities by providing gases that are life-sustaining (oxygen), critical-use (medical air), or suction (vacuum) for patients. These systems are often centrally located and away from patients. If medical air compressors were in high traffic areas, they would bring noise generating equipment closer to patients, be more expensive to maintain, and…
Sterile processing is one of the unsung heroes of a hospital. This space cannot be shut down so it’s rarely the focus of major construction until absolutely necessary. Its function is so critical that decades of hospital growth takes place around it; tucking it away in the oldest, deepest part of the hospital. In the late 2000s,…
Building commissioning has experienced a rise and fall in terms of reputation, understanding, and value. In the 80s and 90s, the introduction of computerized, direct digital controls (DDC), brought new complexities to the built environment and energized the buzz around building commissioning. The unprecedented technology advancements of the last three decades have only made the…
For many of us, the friends we made in college have become our friends for life. Between roommates, teammates, and classmates — personal connections infuse the collegiate experience. Unfortunately, today’s college students are spending more time on their phones than they are interacting with other students. This lack of personal interaction, which used to be the center…
Airports Council International has reported that $38 billion is needed for capital improvements in terminal buildings within the United States. As these facilities continue to age, airports across the country are struggling to increase revenue and find funding for these projects. Fortunately, research suggests that an untapped income potential exists that could be recognized by…
Since the expansion of the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) requirements to include single-phase receptacles up to 50A and three-phase receptacles up to 100A, we’ve seen a trend of increased GFCI nuisance tripping. While these trips can be frustrating, it’s important to not create a code violation or put personnel…
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