Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) -
CAMBRIDGE, MA

CLIENT OBJECTIVES

To add a new office and classroom building to its existing business school campus.

VALUE DELIVERED

A reliable, high-performance HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) solution; use of innovative heating and cooling technologies; cost efficiencies through resource and system repurposing; convenient snow and ice removal system for garage entrance ramp; optimum energy efficiency; lower energy costs; support for LEED Gold certification; a comfortable and productive educational environment.

PROJECT SOLUTIONS

For this client, J.C. Higgins’ innovative approach maximized HVAC system resources by using high-pressure steam and chilled water from MIT’s main system to create lowpressure steam, hot water, and chilled water services for the new building. In addition, the company installed air-handling units with rotary air-to-air heat recovery wheels, as well as radiant panels, panel radiators, variable-air-volume boxes, and a quiet, energyefficient, low-maintenance “chilled beam” system. The company also installed in-slab radiant tubing to melt snow and ice on the garage entrance ramp and to provide supplemental heating for the ground floor main gallery.

As support for the client’s effort to achieve LEED Gold certification, J.C. Higgins installed two components that play a key role in increasing energy efficiency. The heat recovery wheels in the air-handling units draw heat from the building’s exhaust to warm the cool air coming into the building. The “chilled beam” system’s innovative convection technology uses chilled water at a higher temperature than normal to cool the building.

CLIENT BACKGROUND

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the MIT Sloan School of Management is one of the world’s leading business schools, conducting cutting-edge research and providing management education to top students from more than 60 countries. The school’s new 398,000 s.f. building consists of four underground parking levels, six floors of offices/classrooms, and a seventh floor/roof level with penthouse mechanical rooms.

CLIENT:
MIT

GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Walsh Brothers.

ARCHITECT:
Bruner/Cott & Associates

MECHANICAL ENGINEER:
van Zelm Engineers

		Design/Build
		Bid Build
		New Construction
		Retrofit/Renovation
		Electrical Construction
		Mechanical Construction
		Facilities Services
		Consulting Services