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Structure & Site
Summer 2022
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Liverpool High School
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Liverpool High School, a large complex accommodating over 2,000 students a year, underwent extensive renovations during this multi-phase project. The 1950’s Brutalist-style building housing the Athletics and Fine Arts departments was transformed through monumental alterations, including a reconstruction of the Natatorium.
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KHH provided structural engineering services for this highly complex project. We worked closely with Ashley McGraw Architects to make their vision a reality. Using the architect’s conceptual layout KHH developed a rational, dimensioned column grid, including the establishment of working points and radii for the many curved building elements.
The completed spaces allow students and spectators to enjoy athletic events in the Gymnasium, performances in the Auditorium, and aquatic activities in the Natatorium.
For more information about the details of this project, click here.
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A Green and Growing Partnership
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Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt (KHH) is working with Renua Energy (RE) to bring community solar facilities to areas across New York State. Photovoltaic solar arrays planned and built through this partnership produce solar gained electric energy for consumption by the greater community. KHH’s dedicated relationship with Renua Energy began in 2018, during a wave of community solar project incentives for development of New York sites.
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Since then, KHH & RE have successfully worked on the design, planning and development guidance for dozens of community solar array projects now underway. A number of our projects have been successfully completed and others are in the works, making prominent use of properties around the state, providing a sustainable alternative energy source for the public utility companies serving our communities, with added cost savings potentials to their customers as well.
The technical knowledge and customer base of Renua Energy has proven to be of great value to the success of these projects. These skillsets pair well with the work of the civil engineers and landscape architects at KHH. Through the years we have further grown and developed our understanding for the site development of community solar arrays. We pride ourselves on the sensitive and community-centric site design we bring to the communities surrounding the solar arrays. Our landscape architects contribute to the civil design process in the way of screening, soil preservation, and other environmentally sensitive project responsibilities. Our team approach to community solar project development is a stewardship. We work as if we lived in the immediate vicinity ourselves.
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With the ever-increasing demand for electric vehicle innovation and integration, community solar arrays help support advancements for more vehicle charging stations in our community, by providing clean energy that aligns with the greater picture. Renua Energy provides electric vehicle charging station services and implementation, in an effort to help bring such infrastructure to communities all around New York State.
The cooperative work of Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt and Renua Energy for these community solar projects has been successful in the promotion of a green energy alternative. In fact, in aggregate, the solar energy produced by our team's projects over the serviceable life of the solar arrays will offset 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide that might have been emitted from the equivalent of up to 11 fossil fuel plants in a year, or the combustion of over 450 million gallons of gasoline.
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We look forward to advancing ways in which we can further address the environmental concerns and challenges that our built environments face into the future and provide for integral renewable energy sources.
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WHO'S NEW AT KHH
We are excited to welcome these new employees to our firm!
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Steve Darcangelo, P.E.
Steve is a senior engineer with over 20 years of experience in civil design. He graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.
In his free time, Steve enjoys spending time with his family. He resides in Baldwinsville, NY with his wife, Margaret.
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Matthew Leach, R.L.A., ASLA
Matthew is a Landscape Architect with seven years of experience in stormwater design and construction administration. He received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from SUNY ESF, with a minor in Sustainable Construction.
In his free time, Matt enjoys participating in trail cleanup and other outdoor activities.
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Michelle Kivisto
Michelle has joined the firm as an Administrative and Marketing Assistant. Michelle has over 10 years of experience working in administration and customer service. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Le Moyne College.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and performing improv. She resides in Clay, NY.
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Ethan Glade
Ethan is an AutoCAD drafter joining KHH for the summer. In the fall he will return to the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus, where he studies Virtual Design and Construction.
In his free time, Ethan enjoys sailing, drawing, and 3-D modelling.
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Polyurethane Spray Foam is Not a Panacea
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By James D'Aloisio. P.E., LEED AP
The use of closed-cell spray polyurethane foam has been expanding in recent years (pardon the pun!). It has excellent conductive thermal resistance and can be used, in some cases, as an effective air barrier. But there are limitations to its effectiveness in a building’s thermal envelope that not all practitioners realize.
1. Cured SPF may develop cracks or bond failure over time, which can create air flow paths. This can occur when the substrate material to which the SPF is attached (usually steel or wood studs or joists) expands or shrinks due to temperature variations, and moisture variations in the case of wood members. And since SPF has very low thermal mass and does not absorb moisture, the air that exits through such fissures has the same temperature and humidity as it did when it entered, which can create high potential for condensation. Such an effect usually does not occur during construction, but over time, frequently exacerbating over several seasons.
What to do: Avoid the use of SPF on long framing elements, especially if they are subject to temperature variations.
2. Although SPF insulation has high R-values, when applied between studs, joists, or rafters the thermal conductivity of the framing members (called “field thermal bridging”) reduces the thermal resistance, in many cases by half or more. A variant of this is when cold-formed steel wall studs extend up past the roof spandrel beam to form a parapet – See Figure 1.
What to do: Calculate the increase in U-factor for the field. Usually, some amount of continuous insulation is needed to comply with the requirements of the Energy Code.
Click here to read about more limitations and strategic options when using SPF.
We have many material and system options that we can use to create high-performance thermal envelopes and produce buildings that perform well and have minimal problems for many years. Used correctly and judiciously, SPF can be a part of such a strategy. But in many cases, incorporating continuous rigid insulation plus a separate air barrier material will produce better results. Please contact KHH to help you meet the goals of your project.
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KHH Milestone Anniversaries
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Jim D'Aloisio
celebrates 35 years.
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We are excited to celebrate the milestone anniversaries of several employees this year:
Cindy MacConnell, 27 years
Michelle Borton, 6 years
Natalya Medvedev, 29 years
Leslie Terry, 6 years
James Palumbo, 27 years
Alan Greer, 3 years, with prior internship
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The American Concrete Institute (ACI) of CNY held their annual Design and Installation Awards in May 2022. KHH was recognized for being on the teams that won Gold Medals for both Excellence in Masonry for the Catskill Watershed Corporation New Headquarters Project, and Excellence in Concrete for Syracuse University's Dome Roof Replacement Project.
KHH was a Silver Sponsor of the NYS Green Building Conference (NYSGBC). Our firm's own Leslie Terry presented a Sponsor Spotlight, and Jim D'Aloisio presented a session and co-presented a second with Jodi Smits Anderson of EYP.
KHH was among the firms that presented at the CSI Syracuse Construction Outlook event in May.
At the SEI Structures Conference in Atlanta, GA, Jim D'Aloisio delivered two well-attended presentations, one on Sustainability and Thermal Bridging and another on the Picciano North Parking Garage Collapse.
"Structural Engineers and the Energy Code," an article authored by Jim D'Aloisio in the SEAoNY newsletter, Cross Sections, can be found here,.
A multi-week masonry symposium presented by David Biggs was attended by KHH employees Taylor Friant and Paul Twyman.
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Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt is seeking professionals for positions in our structural engineering discipline. Talent, experience, and enthusiasm can lead to significant growth potential. We are a modest-sized, multidisciplinary design firm with a friendly, collaborative work environment, and offer an excellent benefits package. For more information on our open positions, please visit us at https://khhpc.com/contact-us/careers/
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