ultimately delivered more features than the owner had originally programmed within their fixed construction budget. “CSUS didn’t originally anticipate


having an observatory – that was a freebie,” Falvey said. “We were able to get that included because of some really good precon efforts on the part of the team.” Falvey pointed out that while science


on display is the recurring theme throughout the facility, the science and innovation behind some of the building systems is equally impressive. Tanks in large part to its innovative mechanical design features, CSU recently ranked the building as its third most energy efficient building across the university’s entire 23-campus system. “On a relative scale this is signifi-


cantly more energy efficient than a normal science building,” Falvey noted. “It’s pretty cool to see that our project achieved such a high ranking.” He credits MEP designer, P2S


8 September/October 2019


Project At A Glance: Ernest E. Tschannen Science Complex


Owner/Client: CSU Sacramento (Sac State) Design-Build Contractor: Sundt Construction


Design Team: CO Architects P2S Inc. Buehler & Buehler Structural Engineers Cunningham Engineering


Size: 5-story, 96,000-sq.-ft. structure Sustainability: Seeking LEED Gold certification


Project Duration/Highlight: 26 Months (completed July 2019) Unique Highlight: Recently ranked 3rd most energy efficient CSU building


Inc., and the design-assist mechanical electrical contractors, Berg Electric and Lawson Mechanical, for the build- ing’s mechanical systems that are both energy and cost efficient. Tose systems include a unique exhaust system featuring four giant rooftop exhaust fans staged on variable controllers. Approximately 50 fume hoods spread throughout building’s lab spaces connect to this system and draw only as much power as needed to operate efficiently and maintain the required temperature.


Myriad Challenges As expected on a job this size,


the project team faced a variety of challenges throughout the design and construction process. For starters, there were unknowns to contend with during excavation of the project site, which formerly housed a parking lot and portable buildings. Crews encountered various underground pipes and other


California Constructor


Photo by Robby Brown, Sundt Construction


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