Building Automation Keeps University of Illinois Medical Center on the Cutting-Edge

Kroeschell was tasked with heading up controls installation for the largest medical school in the state.

About this project

University of Illinois Medical Center (UIMC) was making a major investment in the infrastructure of their hospital, and part of the remodel included new building automation controls.

Challenge

The original system was antiquated, dampers were missing and there were leaks in the pneumatic system. UIMC bid the work, and Kroeschell was selected to complete the controls portion of the large project.

Solution

Kroeschell was selected to install controls because of our ability to provide turnkey solutions (controls, electrical, engineering, mechanical, commissioning, etc.), knowledge of the Chicago market, quick response time and our commitment to one-on-one coaching with onsite engineers.

Kroeschell ultimately installed over 300 terminal units (VAV boxes and booster coils) and new controls for the following equipment:

  • Four (4) Air handling units
  • Two (2) chillers
  • Two (2) heat exchangers
  • Ten (10) pumps

Alerton was the preferred controls for this project and was selected based on its functionality, performance and reliability. Additionally, Tridium was selected for front-end graphics (the supervisory layer) because it can integrate various types of controls, incorporate alarms and trends and has graphics that are easily manipulated.

Results

With the completion of the controls installation, UIMC’s onsite engineers have eyes on every room in the hospital including operating, isolation, recover and patient rooms. Originally, engineers were required to inspect control issues room by room. Today, they can identify problems immediately with alarms that are sent directly to their pagers. When the pager notifies them of an alarm, the engineers now have the ability to easily access the system from three new locations on the campus. This allows them to quickly diagnose and promptly repair any problems.

UIMC’s new system works more efficiently, saving energy and costs, and because the system is new, there is minimal maintenance required.

Uic Med Center

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