CASE STUDY: Redefining System Limits with Smarter Design
PROJECT NAME.
Design-Build for Tufts University
CUSTOMER.
Confidential Hyperscale Data Center
MARKET SECTOR.
Higher Education
SERVICES.
- Design-build
- Facility Assessment
- HVAC System Design
- Equipment Installation
- Energy efficiency optimization
THE CHALLENGE.
When the wildlife facility began evaluating its HVAC infrastructure, space quickly became the defining constraint. The existing layout left little room for traditional system expansion, limiting options for adding critical cooling capacity and energy recovery capabilities.
At the same time, the facility needed a solution that could:
- Support reliable temperature control for sensitive environments
- Improve overall system efficiency
- Integrate seamlessly without disrupting daily operations
Balancing performance needs with physical space limitations created a complex design puzzle.
THE SOLUTION.
Instead of forcing a solution into an already full space, Limbach stepped back and started with a full facility assessment. The answer wasn’t inside the building; it was outside. By shifting critical equipment outdoors and engineering a system around that approach, Limbach unlocked space and improved performance simultaneously.
The solution included:
- One air-cooled chiller installed externally
- One energy recovery unit to improve efficiency
- Custom steel dunnage to support the new layout
- A buffer tank to stabilize system operation
- An air separator with a vent to optimize performance
This wasn’t just an install; it was a smarter use of space.