LEED Silver energy efficiency project for ESPN
Key Facts
Trade
Trade
- Mechanical
Mobilized expertise
Mobilized expertise
- Multi-trade capabilities
Project figures
Project figures
- LEED Silver energy rating achieved
- 194,000 sq. ft. facility
- 5 production studios, 32 control rooms
Introduction
Launched in 1979, ESPN, Inc. is the leading worldwide provider of multimedia sports entertainment programming currently reaching 71 countries. Its audience grew to a point by 2004 that it constructed what was called the Digital Center (DC-1); a state-of the-art 120,000 square foot production complex designed to produce daily programming. ESPN’s growth continued such that a senior vice president explained, "DC-1 was opened 10 years ago; we were only built for [broadcasting] four to five hours a day. Now we're doing like 17 hours.” B-G Mechanical was called upon by ESPN to play a substantial role in helping address the demand for more programming..
Challenges
ESPN ultimately decided to build a state-of-the-art production studio dubbed DC-2 to be connected by a bridge to DC-1. DC-2 was to be four stories with 194,000 square feet housing five studios, six production control rooms and 26 edit rooms and more. However, by corporate mandate, DC-2 had to be LEED Silver compliant yet also adaptable to the rapidly changing digital video and audio technologies. These non-traditional challenges required a contractor with the extensive experience and skills of B-G Mechanical to successfully deliver some of its distinctive features including: redundant studio air handlers, air handler condensate pumped to the cooling towers and a groundwater collection system supplying water to the cooling towers.
Solution
Due to larger space volumes, the criticality of air flows and increased heating loads from lighting and electronics, the heating and cooling of video production studios is much more complex than conventional facilities such as office and retail space. B-G Mechanical managed the installation of the complex HVAC hardware and systems needed to meet LEED Silver certification for DC-2 as well as supplying:
• High efficiency condensing boilers
• Chillers and cooling towers
• Hot water, chilled water and condensate water piping
• CO2 monitoring for demand control ventilation
• Lighting controls & occupancy sensors
• Daylight control & electronic dimming.
Results
Following the completion of DC-2, B-G Mechanical has continued to provide a variety of services to support many of the facilities at ESPN’s headquarters on its 125-acre campus in Bristol, Connecticut.
