Award:
AGC Award of Excellence

Location:
Colwich, KS

Service:
HVAC Equipment & DDC Controls

Partners:
General Contractor: Dondlinger Construction
Mechanical Engineer: Mechanical Systems, Inc.
Mechanical Engineer: Basis Engineering Consultants, LLC
Mechanical Contractor: Kruse Corporation
Architect: Architectural Innovations

Problem:
The sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent were living in multiple facilities that split their community into small groups. As their membership grew, there was no building space large enough for all the sisters to come together in community. The serenity and stillness was interrupted by sounds of surrounding businesses. The sisters wear heavy garb, so temperatures needed to be kept cooler than a typical building while keeping the price of cooling the building low. Each bedroom offers the only personal space for each member, so the rooms needed customizable temperatures for the comfort of the individual occupant.

Solution:
The convent is the first of its kind to be established in the US in the last 100 years. BCS’s in-kind proposal used a split system AAON DOAS unit and multiple LG VRF systems to heat and cool the facility. DOAS units, or dedicated outside air system, consist of two parallel airsteams and outside air ventilation which recovers energy from building exhaust air. This system has the ability to efficiently and independently dehumidify and heat or cool ventilation from outside air. Outside air systems place the proper ventilation air qualities into every space which ensures fresh and consistent quality. LG VRF and DDC Controls systems were used in the sister’s individual rooms which allowed each to have their own temperature control.

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