Research & Science

Horizon Engineering Associates (HEA) supported Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) on cleanroom projects with spaces ranging from ISO 6 – ISO 8 classification which are used in developing and manufacturing micro electronic components used in the defense / cyber defense industries.

Since 2019, HEA has been involved in over 25 NGC projects including 10 cleanroom projects.

Our involvement typically includes a combination of both traditional commissioning and enhanced engineering support and includes Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems, Controls, Process Gases, Process Waste including Waste Neutralization and RO/DI Water. Our enhanced engineering services on a project include services from design through post acceptance. During design we serve as an integrated member of the team, participating in a number of internal design meetings, multiple design reviews and lead controls coordination meetings held with the owner and the engineer of record. In construction, we hold an additional controls coordination meeting; this one with the selected contractor in addition to previously mentioned members. HEA supplemented traditional Construction Administration A/E services through submittal reviews and site inspections prior to beginning actual pre-functional checklist execution. In post acceptance, HEA typically performs a number of trend reviews and typically gets heavily involved in the troubleshooting and investigation of any operational issues that occur during the testing or turnover phase.

Horizon Engineering Associates (HEA) was contracted to support Hoddess Cleanroom Construction (HCC) with commissioning and Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (M/E/P) coordination and troubleshooting services. HEA’s scope included cleanroom HVAC, controls, chilled and heating water, process utility distribution, electrical distribution and a loss of power / blackout test.

In addition to traditional commissioning activities, our services included leading controls integration sequencing review meetings. During the last 60 days of construction we provided daily on site support for MEP coordination, testing and troubleshooting as well coordinating activities between HCC, the owner and their contractors to ensure that all compliance testing and documentation was completed to allow for an on time turnover of the space for production

Horizon Engineering Associates (HEA) was hired by Anonymous Client to provide commissioning services for over 20 projects throughout their upstate NY campus. Facilities include: laboratories, cleanrooms, plant expansions, manufacturing, equipment installation, warehouses and learning centers.

Led the commissioning efforts on several ISO 5 and 6 cleanrooms in support of various Research and Development projects. In addition to traditional Mechanical, Electrical, Pluming (MEP) commissioning, our services included the development, installation and commissioning of a custom designed system to measure temperature uniformity at critical tooling process points.

Led activities associated with the commissioning of a washer system in support of the development of proprietary medical products. The system operated within an ISO8 space and included an ultrapure water system. The experimental system required enhanced troubleshooting support and resulted in a successful implantation that was subsequently scaled and utilized for the support of commercial production.

Led the commissioning of an ISO7 cleanroom that was utilized to manufacturing microscopes using in the inspection process for micro electronic manufacturing.

HEA provided LEED commissioning services for the Coppin State University’s Science and Technology Center in Baltimore, MD. The Science and Technology Center is an 149,950 sf, six-story structure. The building includes four primary levels occupied by laboratories, classrooms, offices and an upper level mechanical penthouse with a greenhouse and a partially below grade level that includes a loading dock, Vivarium and a Satellite Central Utility Plant (SCUP).

The Human Ecology Building was constructed at Cornell University’s Ithaca NY Campus for the College of Human Ecology. The building was designed and constructed to replace the program space lost when the former North Martha Van Rensselaer building was demolished in 2005. Additionally the facility addressed the lack of parking facilities in the central campus location. The new facility is comprised of a three-floor academic/laboratory building, a three-level parking garage, and the double-height commons linking the new facility to the existing MVR 1933 building.

This project added two new buildings (connected via an enclosed walking bridge) with 300,000 sf of laboratory and office space to the Regeneron complex at the Landmark at Eastview in the Town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. This project is officially certified LEED Gold.

HEA provided building commissioning services for all Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection systems. Over 500 deficiencies were reported and addressed by the contractors during construction, start-up and functional testing. With HEA leading the commissioning team the building is operating per design.

In conjunction with Cleanroom Construction Associates, Horizon Engineering Associates (HEA) provided full life cycle project support on the renovation of an existing ISO 8 clean room used to manufacture commercially approved products classified as medical devices. Our services for this project were as follows:

Developed a User Requirements Specification, Design Concept and Preliminary Project Schedule. Created an RFP and solicited bids and interviewed short list design-build providers, providing recommendations regarding award.

Served as a subject matter expert on the project from an M/E/P and Controls perspective and participated in weekly project team meetings and performed multiple design reviews. Reviewed submittals, shop drawings and other critical project documentation. Provided daily on site support during mechanical system installation and during the actual renovation of the cleanroom space. Led the investigation, troubleshooting and resolution of key issues encountered during start up and commissioning.

Led all compliance activities in accordance with company Standard Operating Procedures using ASTM e2500 as the guiding approach. Developed all critical documentation including System Level Impact Assessments, Commissioning and Qualification Plan, Risk Assessment, Design Qualifications, Commissioning Checklists, and the Performance Qualification Protocol. Executed all commissioning tests and developed individual system and a project summary report after executing.

Buffalo State College renovated their existing science building in two phases. Phase I involved adding 90,000 sf of new construction. The multi-story addition now houses new teaching labs, research labs, faculty offices and instrumentation rooms. Phase II included a full renovation to the north wing of the existing building, demolition of the south wing and construction of a second addition of roughly 59,000 sf.

This upgraded facility houses a vivarium and a new planetarium under one roof, which is unique to most college campuses. The facility totals 222,000 sf and house the Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Physics Departments.

The new Pharmacy Research Building was an addition to the existing Skaggs Hall, a world renowned facility that was built in the 1960’s. The new construction allowed for more space, opportunities for laboratory work and united the entire school of pharmacology into one location. The addition included a four-story atrium connecting the existing building to the new building, four levels of open research and open laboratory spaces, one level of office space, a BSL vivarium, site work and utilities installation. About 80% of the space is devoted to research laboratories, animal facilities and office/support space.

HEA was hired by Northrop Grumman Corporation to perform commissioning services for this renovation project located at 900 International Drive in Baltimore, MD. Built in 1986, this industrial property spans 57,140 sf.

Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless & Information Technology (CEWIT) is a world leader in innovative research and development. CEWIT is actively involved in fostering regional enterprise and commercialization. The new facility will contain an emerging wireless technologies lab, cyber-security lab, computer networking lab, computational sciences lab, clean rooms, and workforce training rooms.

Washington University School of Medicine’s new state-of-the art Specialized Research Facility – East includes BSL-2 (biosafety level 2) animal laboratories. This facility was originally designed to BSL-3 standards but was modified by the owner to maintain budget. Unique testing procedures included smoke bomb testing to demonstrate the airflow patterns and pressurization airflows, simulated loads in animal holding rooms to verify temperature and humidity sensor accuracy and stability, and electrical receptacle and floor drain flood testing.

There were several key benefits resulting from performing commissioning. The simulation of animal holding room loads confirmed the ability of the mechanical and control system to control and respond to the thermal load. The animal holding rooms’ design criteria were also revisited and the airflows and air changes were reduced, lowering energy consumption.

New York University School of Medicine’s new biomedical research center won a Best of 2007 – Award of Merit: Higher Education award from New York Construction Magazine. A striking new architectural addition to the medical campus, the facility contains laboratories, conference rooms, classrooms, a common area, and a landscaped courtyard. Specialized research programs range from cancer and cardiovascular biology to genomics and stem cell biology.

Complete commissioning services were performed for the facility, the BSL-3 (biosafety level 3) laboratories, and the vivarium. The scope also included the pressure monitoring systems, special lighting controls, door interlock systems, cagewash and bedding systems, special filter systems, animal racks and cages, special plumbing fixtures, and autoclaves and hoods.

HEA is providing commissioning services to support construction of a new Academic and Research Facility for Health Sciences. The project includes a new, five-story building that will consolidate the various departments within the College of Health and Human Services: Nutrition & Food Studies, Global & Community Health, Rehabilitation Science, Environmental Health & Occupation Safety, Social Work, School of Nursing, CHHC Public Clinic, Health Administration and Policy, and College Central Administration. The facility will feature classrooms, teaching labs, simulation labs, nutrition food studies kitchen/teaching lab, unassigned research laboratories (wet and dry), offices, student work areas, conference rooms, University services and a cafe. A separate two story structure will house Health Services’ Public Clinic. The clinic will include exam rooms, a sleep lab and community meeting rooms. This facility plans to achieve LEED Silver certification.

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a global vision to improve the human condition. The research facility was designed to increase understanding of basic plant biology, apply new knowledge for the benefit of human nutrition and health, and to improve the sustainability of agriculture worldwide. This facility was designed and tested to BSL-2 standards. Airflow patterns and pressurization were commissioned and the building envelope integrity was tested, leaks were found and resolved.

In addition to building commissioning services, the scope of work was expanded to include oversight of the mechanical design/build contractor, as well as assuming the duties of engineer-of-record for the completion and redesign of the electrical construction documents.

HEA provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) commissioning services for the new 89,000 sf Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) building and chemistry addition project. The building was constructed with multiple laboratory spaces, class rooms, special student manufacturing/engineering development spaces and common areas. HEA was involved in the project through schematic design, design phase reviews and construction phase submittal reviews on the various complex HVAC systems that were installed for this project.

HEA performed commissioning services for the HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems during the two-phase renovation of laboratories and offices for the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. To reorganize the 24,000 sf facility, the architect divided the department into wet laboratory and dry laboratory, office, conference center and administration components along a central corridor. On one side of the corridor are offices and dry labs; on the other side wet labs and a conference center. The department administration is located in a suite at the south end of the corridor. The dry labs are computer intensive research facilities, and the wet labs are designed as open lofts with adjoining enclosed specialty spaces including an environmental room and areas for doing research in nuclear medicine and for performing tissue cultures.

HEA was hired by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York to provide comprehensive mission critical commissioning services for the 395 Hudson Street data center project in New York City.

HEA executed construction phase testing activities and provided summary review services for contract documents. HEA reviewed approved shop drawings and submittals that focused on identifying any potentially significant issues that could have impacted the client from an operational or reliability prespective. If a significant issue was identified in an approved submittal, the issue was brought to the project team for review and comment; minor issues were noted for correction in final O&M documentation.

Brookhaven National Laboratory’s new Research Support Building consolidates frequently visited administrative and support functions into a single location. The facility provides more efficient administrative services to employees and visiting scientists. About 150 employees were relocated to the new building including Human Resources, Badging and a new banking facility.

Commissioning services for the new facility satisfied both the LEED prerequisite and additional point. The scope included the HVAC, central building automation, occupancy sensor lighting controls, steam, electrical power, data and communication, chilled water, and vertical transportation systems.

HEA was hired by Emerson Electric Company to provide Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) services to the White Rodgers Technology Center, a two-story building consisting of two (2) sections, a new 69,000 sf office building and a 30,000 sf renovated lab area. There was excessive equipment and system noise and vibrations in the office area, as well as noise in the cafeteria courtyard outside. The building also had compressor failure and duct condensation.

HEA commissioned the HVAC system, calculated cooling loads, found deficiencies and performed testing and balancing on all sound and vibration systems.

HEA identified the sources of excessive sound and vibration were coming from the three AAON units located on the roof of the building. Once located, HEA provided recommendations with cost to reduce the noise and vibrations generated by the roof top units to tolerable levels. HEA also gave additional recommendations to improve the HVAC system operation and how to reduce the operating cost of the equipment.