Engineering
Engineering
Today's emphasis on building performance, integrated systems, sustainable design, and flexibility requires an integrated team of architects and engineers, with design solutions derived from a total building/campus perspective. This holistic viewpoint drives IDCA's design process, with architects and engineers working side-by-side to create systems that are safe, energy efficient, and fine-tuned to the specific requirements of each project.
Our engineers have been awarded numerous patents for air quality systems and energy-conserving equipment developed for the most demanding technology environments in the world.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is one of the most critical disciplines in the successful design of high performance buildings. Our engineers have developed systems for a variety of demanding applications, from office buildings and laboratories (including BSL-3 and BSL-4 spaces) to clean rooms, data centers, and biomanufacturing facilities. Our portfolio ranges from new construction and retrofit projects to campus infrastructure systems and central energy plants.
Mechanical engineering services include:
- HVAC systems design
- Plumbing systems for potable water, hot water, sanitary sewers, and storm drains
- Exhaust systems, including ductwork materials and system configuration based on careful review of code requirements, redundancy, and flexibility
- Fire protection systems
- Noise and vibration control including sound attenuation on air distribution and vibration isolation of equipment, ductwork, and piping systems
- Energy conservation
- Airflow modeling, using computational fluid dynamics technology to reduce environmental impact, develop cost-saving alternatives, and streamline processes
Electrical Engineering
We design electrical distribution systems to meet demanding criteria for capacity, redundancy, reliability, and flexibility. In addition to design for new facilities, our engineers analyze existing electrical systems, perform studies of alternative methods, and offer state-of-the-art engineering solutions to challenging facility power requirements.
Electrical engineering services include:
- Power supply including substations and utility interface, for new and existing facilities
- Distribution systems for normal, emergency, standby, and power conditioning for new and existing facilities
- Grounding surge suppression, lightning protection, and system design for safe and reliable equipment operation
- Lighting system design for illumination, efficiency, and color quality
- Power system analysis, harmonics, power factors, EMI, ESD, and RFI
Civil Engineering
Our civil engineering services integrate all aspects of site development into comprehensive plans that serve the functional mission of the facility site.
Civil engineering services include:
- Site grading, erosion and sediment control systems, and stormwater management
- Roadway, service yard, and parking area design
- Interface with local jurisdictions and insurance carriers to take advantage of the best available rate structure and capital costs
- Environmentally sensitive design including stormwater management and landscape design
- Economical use of materials and installation methods with an emphasis on life-cycle cost impacts
Structural Engineering
IDC Architects utilizes the structural engineering design services of CH2M HILL subsidiary Paragon Structural Design, Inc. Founded in 1963, Paragon has completed over $9 billion in domestic and international construction, with projects ranging in size from $50,000 to $600 million. The firm has provided award-winning, innovative, and economical solutions for nearly all types of industrial and commercial buildings. Paragon's design capabilities encompass multiple-span beams and columns, long-span trusses, mat foundations, concrete slab systems, composite steel beams, and dynamic three-dimensional seismic analysis of structures.
Technical Services
IDCA's technical specialists ensure the performance of our designs through rigorous analysis and testing prior to construction, with unique analytical tools and services such as:
- Computer simulation of high efficiency passive and mechanical systems
- Computer analysis of natural and artificial lighting
- Airflow modeling
- Cost estimating
- Life-cycle cost analysis
- Energy analysis
- Commissioning
- LEED® certification solutions