AC 2011-2611: ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING

CURRICULUM AND HVAC

SYSTEMS CAPSTONE DESIGN

Ahmed Cherif Megri, University of Wyoming

Dr. Ahmed Cherif Megri, associate professor of architectural engineering at the

University of Wyoming (UW), teaches several HVAC and energy courses. Dr. Megri is
also teaching a course titled Comprehensive Performance of Building Envelope and
HVAC Systems for Summer School at UW, and Smoke and Fire Dynamics during
summer session at Concordia University, Canada. His research areas include airflow
modeling, zonal modeling, energy modeling, and artificial intelligence modeling using
the support vector machine learning approach. Prior to his actual position at UW, he
was an assistant professor and the director of Architectural Engineering Program at
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). He was responsible for developing the current
architectural engineering undergraduate and masters programs at the Illinois
Institute of Technology (IIT). During his stay at IIT, he taught fundamental engineering
courses, such as thermodynamics and heat transfer, as well as design courses, such
as HVAC, energy, plumbing, fire protection and lighting. Also, he supervise many
courses in the frame of interprofessional projects program (IPRO). In few months, Dr.
Megri will defend his Habilitation (HDR) degree at Pierre and Marie Curie University -
Paris VI, Sorbonne Universities.

ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING CURRICULUM AT UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

Abstract:

Architectural engineers apply engineering principles to the construction and design of

buildings. They often collaborate with architects, who focus on function layout or
aesthetics of building projects. Architectural Engineering often encompasses elements
of other engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and
others. The architectural engineers are responsible for the different systems within a
building, structure, or complex.
Architectural engineers focus several areas, including: the structural integrity of
buildings; the design and analysis of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems;
efficiency and design of plumbing, safety and fire protection and electrical systems;
acoustic and lighting planning, and energy conservation.
In this paper, our objective is to present the new curriculum at University of Wyoming
that focuses on several disciplines: HVAC systems design, energy, plumbing, fire
protection and building electricity. This multidisciplinary program focuses on the
integration between architecture and engineering. It includes capstone design courses
that cover the major areas. The integration aspects of different disciplines of
architectural engineering will be discussed. As well as, we will discuss the integration
of safety and fire protection in the curriculum. The history of the architectural
engineering curriculum at University of Wyoming will be also covered. Future plans to
evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum in term of learning outcomes.

My, how the tables have turned.

I'm still an architect and I'm still designing homes, but I'm also designing, specifying
and integrating the HVAC Systems for those homes. I also design them for homes that
other architects or designers have done. Sometimes it's the architect that hires me,
and other times it's the HVAC contractor or the home's builder.
No matter who it is, most of the time it's too late to influence the architecture and
interior design to smoothly integrate the equipment and ductwork because the house
is already framed up. The HVAC system is typically one of the last thing to be installed
in a home, just before insulation, drywall and finishes. Oddly, it's also one of the last
things to be designed, and it's done on the fly. Too often the architecture and interior
design did NOT account for the integration of a mechanical system and its ductwork,
so installation becomes a challenge.
You know that expression, "trying to fit ten pounds in to a five pound sack"? It can be
like that in most situations where I'm asked to design the HVAC System as an
afterthought. Thankfully, I enjoy the challenge of it and I make it work! Of, course, it
would definitely make everyone's job go smoother and faster if I had been asked
earlier, but that's the point.

Case in point

Here's a recent project that illustrates what happens when HVAC Design is an
afterthought. See all the red lines in the image below? Those are beams. Beams that
can NOT be penetrated or moved because the house is nearly finished. Cutting a
whole would likely cause the house to fall down (not good!), and moving an already
installed beam is, to put it nicely, impractical. Dropped ceilings and soffits were out of
the question, and the only space available for equipment was in the encapsulated
attic areas adjacent to the second floor rooms. No HVAC closet.
Back to the example above. After we decided on the only practical places for the
ducted (mini-split) fan coils (see blue zone and green zone), we had three major
challenges:

1. Find a route for the ductwork to serve the Great Room in the Blue Zone
2. Do the same for the Master Bedroom in the Green Zone
3. Keep the distances of the ductwork as short as possible to maintain good
performance with these low-static units.

Both of these rooms on the other side of impenetrable and immovable beams. So,
after verifying it on site, we determined the best way to get the air to those rooms
was to go through the attic space above the porch, which wasn't originally going to be
encapsulated. It required a change order to install foam insulation so we could keep
all the ductwork within a building enclosure.

Though we were pushing the limits of the system's performance (available static
pressure (0.2), friction rates, etc.), the duct design showed that it was possible. We
worked with the contractor to install fittings that made air flow as smooth as possible.
It took several different scenarios and revisions to get it there, but we did, and the
system performs well. Phew! Another successful save!

It's an opportunity, not a problem

Until homes are designed and built to only need a tea pot to heat them and a couple
of ice cubes to cool them, we NEED mechanical heating and cooling systems. The
equipment and the ductwork need to be thought about and understood, so they can
be integrated in to the architecture and interior design of homes. They are the
primary building component that will keep their homeowners comfortable during the
summer and winter months. There are no two ways about it.

Just think of it this way. It's another design opportunity! As architects and interior
designers, we love to design, right? Aren't we always looking for ways to be
innovative. Who better to come up with the big ideas for a building design than the
architect or designer? Who knows, we could come up with the next big thing in
heating and cooling a home, and the industry would love us for it!

Oh, wait, that would mean we'd get recognition for a unique and inventive idea. Never
mind! Architects and Interior Designers aren't interested in that kind of thing. We're a
modest group...

Here's an idea developed by Rob deKeiffer, of Boulder Design Alliance, for a way to
"conceal" a return air pathway (and relieve room pressure) from one room to the next
through a door frame. Couldn't we run with something like this and do something
similar with crown molding? Wouldn't you rather come up with a detail like this instead
of "accepting" the "hideous" metal grill? Architects and Designers don't "accept"
anything, do we. Well, there is one thing. We'll accept challenge? So bring it on!
Consider it a challenge!

More of these kind of opportunities await us. Let's not just focus on "juxtaposing"
something ambiguous or "blurring the lines between inside and out".

How about we blur the lines between design and building science. Now that's a
juxtaposition I'd like to see more of!

Sample HVAC Plan Digital Unit Ventilator Control

HVAC Plans sample: Digital unit ventilator control.

This example is created using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming software enhanced with
solution HVAC Plans from ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Sample Ventilation Unit With Heat Pump & Ground Heat Exchanger

HVAC Plans sample: Ventilation unit with heat pump & ground heat exchanger.

This example is created using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming software enhanced with
solution HVAC Plans from ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Sample Central Air Pool Heater

HVAC Plans sample: Central air pool heater.

This example is created using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming software enhanced with
solution HVAC Plans from ConceptDraw Solution Park.
SLU ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT

BUILDING UTILITIES / 5:00-6:00

RSW-PR-01
 RELATION OF HVAC TO ARCHITECTURE
DATE DUE: 28 JANUARY 2016

DATE SUBMITTED: 28 JANUARY 2016

INSTRUCTOR STUDENT

AR. DARYL RAMIREZ BATUYONG, GEMMER L.