The original concept was to utilize a Geothermal heating and cooling systems for the entire facility. When test drilling was completed, it was determined that the condition of the site -- previous mushroom houses, trailers, junk cars and rusted out farm equipment -- was not suitable for a Geothermal system.

Upon this finding, SUI immediately transitioned to a value engineering redesign phase with the owner. We examined the planned three (3) levels of the club and provided a solution where rooftop equipment would be strategically located on the three (3) roofs and, for aesthetic purposes, would be curtained off and not visible from the parking lot or surrounding areas.

The location of the equipment further complicated the air distribution systems, into a total of thirty-one (31) zones. Ductwork now had to traverse ceilings, beams, corridors and chassis in order to get to its final distribution point. Fabrication of the air distribution systems started immediately with three (3) dimensional AutoCAD drawings used to accommodate the electrical and mechanical spaces for installation in the field. Daily meetings were required with the installation teams, many working on two (2) or three (3) duct systems at a time as construction areas became available.

Installation included a total of thirty-one (31) Carrier Hi-Efficiency Rooftop Units, with a total capacity of 325 tons or 3.9 million BTU’s of cooling, 130,00 CFM of airflow, eleven (11) energy recovery ventilators and two (2) variable air filter systems. A unique feature of this club are the Yoga Rooms where SUI provided a solution to maintain a Yoga temperature of 98° plus or minus 2° and 45% humidity for a period of an hour and a half on demand during the Yoga classes. Supplemental heat is added from a radiant heating system in the ceiling.

Another unique feature of this club is the outdoor enclosed swimming pool containing a retractable roof. This portion of the club comprises approximately twenty-five thousand five hundred (25,500) square feet and is heated and ventilated by a forty-five thousand (45,000) CFM heat recovery system with spiral exposed aluminum ductwork and stainless steel hangers throughout the pool areas. In addition to heat recovery and ventilation, the make-up air unit has a BTU input capacity of six million (6,000,000) BTU’s for severe conditions. The areas around the pool, in the enclosed area, are all heated with approximately ten thousand (10,000) feet of PEX tubing that are imbedded in the concrete floor.

The entire facility is controlled and monitored by a web-based, direct digital control system with all information from all rooftop units, including temperatures and pressures, available on a 24/7 basis via the internet with proper access codes.