Projects

New Heating, Cooling & Ventilation for Oakland Rehab Facility

The Salvation Army Adult Recovery Center (ARC) in Oakland, CA had air conditioning units and exhaust fans some of which have been in disrepair for years, abandoned on the roof. The rooftop ducting was leaking, and no heating, cooling or ventilation was provided to the common areas or restrooms. The kitchen hood exhaust was also undersized and installed with old maintenance-intensive equipment. The Salvation Army was committed to upgrading and improving the conditions of the facility for its clients.

The Solution

Design & Engineering

Cooper Oates’ engineering team worked with the general contractor, Ascent Builders, to create a plan for the installation of new heating, cooling and exhaust equipment for the ARC. Given that the ductwork inside the building envelope was inaccessible and space above the ceiling was limited, rooftop ducting was required to provide proper air distribution.

Work Performed

Safety First

After demolishing the old equipment, we discovered that the existing kitchen ductwork had so much grease and dirt buildup which would present a fire hazard when welding. As safety is our top priority, we insisted the duct shafts be cleaned before our crew began work. A structural engineer was involved to ensure that the existing structural members on the roof were capable of handling the load of the new units soon to be installed.

Installation

The rooftop duct work, fabricated in-house by our team, was then installed on the roof as well as 9 package units, 1 split system and 12 rooftop mount exhaust fans. The new units were equipped with economizers to provide free cooling to the rooms when the outside temperature is below 65F. All rooftop ducting was insulated to comply with Title 24 efficiency standards. New wiring for a brand-new thermostat system was required since the existing wire was inaccessible in the walls and not up to code.

Added Challenges

As the recovery center resides next to a busy street in Oakland and surrounded by homeless camps, it was a challenge to navigate traffic around the job site while transporting the duct work to the roof via forklift.

Additional weather-sealing was also required to protect the rooftop duct work from the elements. To combat this, our team installed custom sheet metal cap flashings on all exposed duct work to protect it from degradation and minimize risk of leaks.

Results

The indoor air quality of the Salvation Army Adult Recovery Center has vastly improved due to the addition of economizers on the units, utilizing outdoor air for cooling when temperature permits, which will improve the day-to-day conditions of the residents, employees and warehouse team. It will also have a positive impact on efficiency.

Fresh air ventilation rates were increased to meet and exceed current code regulations, and the new Wi-Fi thermostats installed will give much-needed control of the indoor climate.

Kudos to the Team

Our general contractor passed on kudos to the Cooper Oates team for the meticulous and thorough installation. In their words:

“During the initial inspection, the city inspector commented that he hadn’t seen such a meticulous installation before. He even noted that this level of workmanship gave him confidence in the quality of the entire project. We want to give a well-deserved tip of the hat to Cooper Oates for going above and beyond to ensure the integrity of their work. Their dedication to quality and foresight exemplifies the kind of partnership we value on every project. Great work!”

We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations during every project, and we did just that. Great job to our crew for the good work!