Prince George's Community College, Queen Anne Academic Center

Henry Adams provided the MEP/FP engineering design for the $88M LEED Gold renovation and expansion of the academic center enhancing vital Liberal Arts departments and programs dedicated to performing arts and communication arts. The new facility uplifts, empowers, and encourages creativity by offering workforce development, student services, and community outreach programs.

The project renovated approximately 38,000 SF and added 135,000 SF to transform the existing building beyond imagination. It replaced deteriorated building MEP/FP infrastructure and corrected issues to meet the current ADA code.

The awe-inspiring creative academic workspace expanded and transformed the curricula of Music, Theatre, Speech, Television, Radio, and Film. Beyond classrooms and offices, the center added a variety of theaters and studios while modernizing renovated areas. In addition – the building offers entertainment technology labs, a conference center, instructional conference spaces, offices, staff meeting areas, breakout rooms, a TV studio, audio studios, an art gallery, and a large dance barre studio.

The HVAC and building controls were upgraded to include a standalone heating plant. Air-cooled chillers and eight distributed variable air volume (VAV) air handling units serving the Grand, Proscenium Stage, Black Box, Scene Shops, and Buildings North, South, and Central wings. The plumbing scope encompassed sanitary, vent, water, and gas.

The electrical scope included power and lighting design. Two outdoor, pad-mounted, transformers extended from the campus medium-voltage system to provide electrical service. A new, outdoor, diesel-fueled emergency generator provided back-up service. Individual workspace and multi-occupant space featured user-controlled, flexible, task-appropriate lighting controls. Coordination was performed with all electronic security, access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance.

The fire protection included fire alarm and fire suppression. A complete addressable fire alarm system with occupant notification by voice evacuation was provided and integrated with the existing campus system. The building entrance doors were programmed to lock and unlock at certain times of the day.  Emergency call boxes are located at the loading dock, terrace, and the main entrance level. The entire building was provided with an automatic wet sprinkler system and a fire pump to provide for the system.

The project won an ACEC/MD Excellence in Engineering Honors Award reflecting innovative excellence in engineering.