Perfect Fit for Health Center Needs
One hundred miles north of Indianapolis and 85 miles east of Chicago, Plymouth is the county seat of Marshall County in north central Indiana. Incorporated as a city in April 1873, Plymouth today had a 2008 population of 10,000.LifePlex Health Management Center
Dr. Byron M. Holm, a family practitioner to the Plymouth community, and his wife Mary, a registered physical therapist, had dreamed for 32 years of a “one stop” health care and medical fitness center—a “LifePlex” for wellness promotion, state-of-the-art diagnostic services and rehabilitation. With a grand opening celebration ceremony on July 13, 2007, Holm’s dream came to fruition. The new center—132,000 square feet on two floors—includes the Holm Medical Clinic, Fitness Forum and centers for specialty orthopedics, nephrology, cardiac rehabilitation, screening and diagnostic X-ray, speech therapy, diabetes counseling and nutritional services. The facility also includes leased office and retail space, a café, pharmacy and day care center.
One Thing Leads to Another
While investigating a HVAC solution for his daughter’s home, Holm was introduced to VRF zoning systems by J.D. McGrath, McGrath Refrigeration, Knox, Ind. During their meeting, Holm mentioned to McGrath that he was about to begin construction on the LifePlex real estate venture using a modular four-pipe chiller/boiler variable air volume system.
After learning more about the Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) zoning system from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating Solutions, Suwanee, Ga., Holm asked McGrath, a third-generation HVAC engineer, to redesign LifePlex with VRF systems.
McGrath left the appointment, called Paul Quigley at Excelsior Mfg. & Supply Corp., Elkhart, Ind., and asked him to help redesign the new state-of-the-art facility. The two men spent nights burning the midnight oil, scouring the LifePlex blueprints. The new center was to contain a college basketball gymnasium, a complete indoor aquatic center, a 72,000-square-foot, two-story wellness center and a 60,000-square-foot, two-story multi-service medical center.
Unique Design Challenges
According to Quigley, the entire facility was a work in progress from the onset. “When the center was built, the tenants were not all secured. We had no idea who would be occupying the space and what their ultimate needs would be, since so many of the areas were originally designed for construction skin load only. The Mitsubishi Electric system provided us with an extreme amount of flexibility for add-ons, equipment changes and relocations. One of our larger skin load designs ended up as a Nephrology Care center that needed variable temperature capabilities. Once the design for that was finalized, we had less than 20 days to completely redesign, reconfigure and reinstall the system.”
Focus on Energy Recovery and Perfect Temperature
The R2-Series Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) zoning system installed at LifePlex has the distinct capability to redirect superheated refrigerant to another indoor unit calling for heat, which amounts to ‘free heat’ for the other zone. This means the gymnasium’s running track circling the upper level will be in cooling mode 24/7/365 while the lower level of the gymnasium will be heated for several months each year. “We simply cooled the track environment and redirected the superheated refrigeration down to the gymnasium providing ‘free’ heating. Another major part of the energy savings equation is that the VRFZ systems use INVERTER technology in the outdoor units. This means only moderate energy usage by the outdoor unit based on the precise comfort needs of each occupant’s zone in the LifePlex,” said McGrath.
Tax Credits, Discounted Utility Rates and Tenant Billing
“The Mitsubishi Electric VRF system provides load sharing and heat recovery that surpasses anything else available on the market today,” McGrath said. By using this technology, Holm further comments he was able to obtain a sizeable tax credit and discounted utility rates. In addition, the G-50A controller allowed Holm to use tenant billing, which monitors exact wattage usage on individual HVAC equipment. This capability generates a monthly statement so Holm can bill the tenant usage based on exact calculations.
It’s All Green
Fresh air, humidity control and temperature accuracy were critical factors and always at the forefront of the LifePlex system design. “Dr. Holm is a very environmentally conscientious consumer,” Quigley said. “He let it be known immediately that we needed to provide his center with an extremely efficient system that runs on very low wattage electricity; one that would burn no carbon fuels. We could not have done better with any other system. This is a very ‘green’ package,” he concluded.
Efficiency Numbers
Quigley reports that the VRF zoning systems at LifePlex were recently monitored. The outdoor temperature reached 96 degrees Fahrenheit, and the building was at full occupancy. Holm’s reports show that the LifePlex HVAC systems were running at a cost well below the industry standard. “In our industry, those numbers are so low, they are no less than stunning,” Quigley said.
Extremely Impressed
“Like a gifted athlete, Mitsubishi Electric VRF systems—with its host of central and branch controllers, variable fan speeds on all air handlers and compressors, air exchange rates, individual zone controls, energy recovery and INVERTER technology—effortlessly handle any and all climate or zone challenges,” Holm said.
“We have been extremely impressed with the fact that in our medical center, which generates significant heat from radiation and stress tests, Mitsubishi Electric systems keep us cool and comfortable. The same great flexibility applies to our aerobic centers (kept at 69 degrees Fahrenheit), our racquetball courts (kept at 68 degrees Fahrenheit), our Yoga classroom (set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit) and our college-size basketball court (71 degrees on the court and 72 degrees Fahrenheit on the overhead track above).”
The Soft Touch
“When you are in an exercise class, you want to feel the air move. The Lossnay® ERVs do that extremely well and we have had nothing but compliments from our members, our tenants and our staff. I call it the ‘soft touch’ —what is its real worth? Whatever extra I spent on Mitsubishi Electric equipment is already paying dividends, not only in discounted electric rates and energy savings, but in the happiness (wellness) quotient from everyone in our new facility,” Holm concluded.
