Structure & Site 
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Twenty-Year Anniversaries
Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt recognized three major employee milestones in February. James A. Palumbo, R.L.A., ASLA, an Associate in the Landscape Architecture department, and Cindy R. MacConnell, our Accounting Manager, have both been with KHH for 20 years.
  
And Fifteen Years . . .
In addition, Larry P. Rathbun, an Engineering Technician and cost estimator, has completed 15 years with the firm.
 
Congratulations and thanks to each of them for their years of service.
  
 
March 2015
Rain Garden Brightens Cancer Center Entrance

Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt was the site Landscape Architect for the SUNY Upstate Medical University Clinical Cancer Center, completed last year. Site components for the project included pedestrian and vehicular circulation, storm water management, and planting design.

 

One distinctive site element is the rain garden located at the main entrance to the facility. The rain garden was designed to be a visual focal point both for those arriving at the hospital and for patients, family, and staff from hospital rooms above. It mimics the natural appearance of a cobble stream bed, lined with boulder outcrops and dressed with a variety of wet-tolerant and native plants.

The rain garden helps to mitigate storm water runoff. Runoff is piped from the building and pedestrian canopies into the rain garden, and also flows across the surface from the surrounding paved vehicular entry. Storm water then temporarily ponds in the stone basin where it is encouraged to infiltrate into the ground. In extreme rain events, excessive flow is handled by slowly discharging via an overflow storm pipe.

 

The rain garden was designed in conjunction with the City of Syracuse and the "Save the Rain" program. KHH worked closely with the contractor to ensure the appearance and functionality of the design.
New Commercial Energy Code Takes Effect

by James A. D'Aloisio, P.E., SECB, LEED AP BD+C

 

On January 1, 2015, the new NYS Commercial Energy Code became effective, replacing the commercial portions of the 2010 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (ECCCNYS). The residential portion of the ECCCNYS was not changed from 2010.

 

The new Code is based on the IECC 2012 and ASHRAE 90.1-2010. The Building Code Council has not yet provided the new Commercial Energy Code as one document. Rather, a "2014 Supplement" is available that identifies revisions to the ECCCNYS-2010 and the referenced IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 codes. So, to follow the new Code, one must cross-reference several documents.

 

The 2012 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2010 have very different prescriptive envelope requirements, with ASHRAE 90.1-2010 having similar requirements to the 2010 ECCCNYS that we have been using for the past four years, which was based on the 2009 IECC. The 2012 IECC requires significant increases, e.g. 25-50% increases in roof insulation above deck. Accordingly, on the surface, the ASHRAE 90.1 compliance path looks to be much easier to meet.

 

COMcheck is usable with the new code, but the envelope compliance path apparently uses the ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix C Trade-Off Option, regardless of which code is selected.

 

Air leakage control is still mandatory, regardless of the compliance path followed. Both paths have minor changes. Field-fabricated assemblies still do not need testing, and there are still the three methods of ensuring "compliance" - Materials, Assemblies, or Building Test.

 

See http://www.dos.ny.gov/dcea/energycode_code.html for more information. 
New and Noteworthy
New KHH Website Coming
Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt has a new website in development that will be debuting this spring. Stay tuned!
  
March Presentations Scheduled

Principal Jim D'Aloisio has a number of presentations slated for the month of March, including the following:

  • March 4th at NESEA BuildingEnergy 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts: Enlightened Structures That Reduce Buildings' Carbon Emissions
  • March 12th at the New York State Green Building Conference in Syracuse: Concrete Ideas for Reducing Carbon Emissions
  • March 18th for the New York State Society of Professional Engineers - Westchester/Putnam: Climate Change and Engineering Ethics. 
www.khhpc.com | 315-446-9201 | [email protected]

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