P01-657-101 100PCT Design Narrative.pdf

Department of Veterans Affairs Jefferson Barracks

St. Louis, MO

Project Number 657-101

(VEG 21.02)

Construct Urgent Care Clinic Building Addition

100% Not For Construction Submittal

Design Narrative

December 1, 2022

750 W. HAMPDEN AVE. #300

ENGLEWOOD, CO 80110

Ph (720) 550-6307

750 W Hampden Ave, Suite #300

Englewood, CO 80110

Ph (720) 550-6307 www.ValhallaEngineering.com

December 1, 2022

Design Narrative

Project: Construct Urgent Care Clinic Building Addition Location: St. Louis VAMC, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO Project Number: 657-101 (VEG 21.02) Contract Number: VA255-17-D-0114

Project Phase: 100% Construction Documents

GENERAL:

Scope of Work – As stated in the Contractual Scope of Work (SOW):

“The intent of this project is to provide an Urgent Care Clinic that will serve veterans in the South County St. Louis area who do not have convenient access to episodic or urgent medical care and/or will not travel to the John Cochran Emergency Department. The space will include administrative, clinical areas, imaging services & support areas. The AE will provide visualizations (colored floor plans, elevations, 3D renderings, color boards, etc.) during the design phase to allow the Integrated Project Team (IPT) to understand design intent. The aesthetic of the interior and exterior of the building addition will complement existing aesthetic of Building 55 and will matching the same materials and patterns as much as possible within the limits of the construction budget.”

The Urgent Care Clinic is intended to be designed as a 9,346 Gross SF (6,923 DGSF) addition to Building 55. The detailed Program for Design (PFD) was provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which included planned sizes for each room.

Consideration has been given to how patient transport occurs from buildings 52 and 53 through the tunnel system to the Urgent Care Clinic and group areas have been configured with consideration to social distance requirements.

Classification of Building – During the early design phases, it was determined that the classification of the building addition should be Life Safety Protected instead of Mission Critical as stated in the SOW.

This classification both saved a significant amount of construction cost and is consistent with the classification of Building 55. The classification change from MC to LSP has been formalized through a contract modification.

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The following provides the overall design approach to the project based on scope.

A. Site Development

The decision to place the new addition on the north side of building 55 was based on the following considerations:

• Access and drop-off to the entry of the new addition was on the same street as the existing building and worked with the existing traffic flow.

• It was the least disruptive to the parking count and allowed the use of an existing open area for additional parking.

• A connecting corridor from the new addition could be attached to the existing tunnel access from building 55. This allows access to the Generator building and landscaped areas west of the addition.

• Existing accessible parking could be retained with six (6) additional accessible spaces and eighteen (18 ) standard parking spaces.

B. Landscape

The intent of the landscape design is to create an iconic and accessible entry to the new Urgent Care Clinic and integrate the new addition into the existing landscape that was installed as part of the construction of the new building 55.

Hardscape materials/patterns and site furnishings that were used for building 55 are repeated for the new urgent care addition. The planting scheme will include native plants to impart a local feel to the project and to facilitate a higher success rate of plant material. The specific plant list is drawn from the plant list that was implemented at building 55. Similar storm water management techniques are incorporated into the landscape design and will include bio-retention areas.

Landscape lighting is coordinated with the building lighting design with the intent to facilitate safety and to highlight features of the new addition entry and the surrounding landscape design.

C. Architectural

Building Design The architectural design is based on one of the three options as described in the Scope of Work (SOW). The various options were presented in conceptual format to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR), VHA engineering staff and medical staff during the project Kickoff Charrette meeting held on February 9, 2021. The pros and cons of each option were discussed, and feedback was given by several of those in attendance. It was determined by VHA staff that Option 2 (building addition to the north) was the preferred solution for continued development since it provided the best alternative for adjacency to Building 55 services, access to the existing tunnel system and the least impact on existing parking. During the Out Brief Meeting on Wednesday, February 10, Valhalla presented two variations on Option 2 (2A & 2B) that incorporated user and engineering comments and addressed several designs, patient flow, and siting issues.

The Concept Design is organized around an Entry/Waiting area leading to Triage/Consulting Offices. Patients will then be directed to the appropriate Exam or Mental Health component of the Clinic. Support functions, such as Imaging, Lab and clinic support are available in a clearly defined circulation pattern.

Further design consultation with FMS, VA Staff and Medical Providers resulted in additional input which improved the layout and efficiency of the preliminary conceptual design.

The design of the interior and exterior of the addition is closely integrated with the vocabulary established in Building 55. A connecting corridor on the back of the addition allows for a direct connection to the tunnel system without disrupting access to the Generator Building.

The exterior materials palette is primarily modular face brick to match Building 55, aluminum storefront and curtainwall window systems and cast stone accents, banding and copings. The design employs a buff-colored brick with horizontal reveals and vertical control joints to compliment the design and color of Building 55’s precast panels.

MHEOCC Standards The Mental Health services (Intervention Room, Mental Health Exam Room & Mental Health Toilet Room) are designed to comply with the Mental Health Environment of Care Checklist requirements. This includes things such as anti-ligature fixtures and equipment, floor and ceiling finishes and dual layer gypsum walls for impact resistance and sound attenuation.

Mechanical diffusers and electrical light fixtures that comply with mental health standards have also been used as well as locating light switches and outlets on the outside of the Intervention Room and MH Toilet Room.

General Radiology Room to CT Room The programmatic requirement in the Scope of Work (SOW) and the Program For Design (PFD) for a General Radiology Room was changed to a CT Room by way of a contract modification. The design of this room reflects the “worst case scenario” requirements for a CT Scanner in terms of space allocation, control room size and layout, lead shielding (as determined by Valhalla’s radiation physicist consultant) and mechanical and electrical infrastructure. A separate “site prep” project will need to be completed to verify these requirements and fully prepare this room for the specific CT Scanner awarded by the National Acquisition Center (NAC).

D. Interior Design

The Interior Design concept for the new addition reflects the general “look and feel” of the existing finishes of Building 55. Since the new addition is directly connected to Building 55, the design attempts to create a seamless transition from the interior of the main building through the use of similar flooring and ceiling materials and a complimentary lighting design.

Patients will arrive at the dedicated Urgent Care drop off and upon entering the building are greeted by a high volume, light filled reception area with an open check-in counter and wood ceiling accents. Clinical spaces utilize ceramic floor tile, painted gypsum wall board and 2x2 acoustic ceiling tiles. The staff Patient- Area Care Team (PACT) area is generously lit by means of a large, translucent skylight, which will reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day and save on long term energy costs.

E. Fire Protection

The automatic fire sprinkler design is based on the 2019 Edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and requirements of the VA Fire Protection Design Manual, Seventh Edition, December 2015. All areas of work in this project are considered Light hazard occupancy requiring 0.1 gpm/sq. ft. over the remote area (1500 sq. ft.) and a 100 gpm hose allowance except electrical rooms, mechanical rooms which are considered Ordinary Group 1 hazard occupancy requiring 0.15 gpm/sq. ft. over the remote area (1500 sq. ft.)

and a 250 gpm hose allowance, and storage rooms which are considered ordinary hazard Group 2 occupancy requiring 0.20 gpm/sq. ft. over the remote area (1500 sq. ft.) and a 250 gpm hose allowance.

The fire alarm system complies with the required and advisory portions of NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code, 2019 edition, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, 2019 edition, and requirements of the VA Fire Protection Design Manual, Seventh Edition, December 2015. The addition fire alarm and mass notification system match the Building 55 specifications and are connected to the Building 55 Siemens system.

Automatic fire detection is provided in the form of smoke detection and heat detection where required, and sprinkler monitoring. Duct detectors are provided as required by code.

F. Structural

The structural design is consistent with the architectural concept. All structural design is in accordance with applicable building codes and engineering standards and includes the latest editions of IBC, ASCE 7, and specific VA criteria.

The building is designed to meet all requirements of the Physical Security & Resiliency Design Manual (2020 edition) for Life Safety and the VA H-18-8 Seismic Design Handbook.

The seismic design is intended to provide a structure that responds to the maximum considered earthquake ground shaking with a low probability of collapse, while potentially sustaining significant inelastic behavior and structural damage. This seismic design philosophy is in concordance with the latest codes and provisions from the American Institute of Steel Construction. Primary structural members are checked for the design level natural hazards phenomena. The structure shall be composed of plain concrete, reinforced concrete, metal deck, cold formed steel, and hot rolled structural steel. The structural framing of the addition consists of steel post and beam with brace frames. The roofing system is metal deck with open web joists. The foundation shall be reinforced concrete (grade beams and caissons) and the floor slab of partially reinforced or plain concrete. Seismic joints (isolation joints) will separate the hallway and the mechanical room from the existing Building 55 and the new Urgent Care. These spaces are “separate structures,” laterally supported by steel moment frames independent of the adjacent structures.

The building addition is designed for seismic design category D and an ultimate design wind speed equal to 119 mph (3 second gust).

Foundation design is in accordance with the site-specific geotechnical report.

Foundations are designed to ensure that total settlement is kept to a minimum and to minimize the effects to and from the existing building. The foundation will utilize a grade beam system support by concrete piers, which is consistent with the existing primary structure.

G. Blast Protection

The building physical security, including blast resistant design for the exterior building envelope and building structure, ram resistant vehicle barriers, etc.

shall be provided in accordance with the Physical Security and Resiliency Design Manual (PSDRM) dated October 2020. The facility is designed for the VA’s Life Safety Protected (LSP) requirements for blast resistant design, and thus a 25-foot minimum standoff distance to unscreened vehicles is required. The minimum standoff distance shall be provided to the edge of curb and enforced at building entrances by anti-ram barriers. Progressive collapse resistant design shall not be required for a one-story structure in accordance the VA Physical Security Resilience Design Manual (PSRDM).

All members exposed to blast, including structural elements, glazing, and cladding elements shall be designed using response limits as noted in the Physical Security Design Manual for VA Facilities and Blast Protection of Buildings, ASCE/SEI 59-11 response limit criteria appropriate for the component, level of protection, material, and loading condition under consideration. The blast loads for the envelope and structure have been determined in accordance with the PSDRM and VA Data Definitions document. For windows systems, a balanced design has been provided such that glazing, framing and anchorages are designed to be stronger than the supported glazing. Glazing systems primarily consist of a punched openings, ribbon and curtainwall systems. Curtainwall systems shall generally span from floor level to roof level with anchorage directly to the floor and roof diaphragms; punched and ribbon windows will have backup structural framing elements to span to the floor and roof diaphragms.

H. Plumbing

Plumbing Design is based on the VA Plumbing Design Manual, Nov 2014 – Rev May 1, 2018. Sinks and other fixtures are provided per VA room design requirements. The basis of design for all equipment will match the Building 55 design documents. Cold water and hot water are provided from the Building 55 mechanical room, 1M-1.

Medical Gases: Oxygen, Medical Air and Vacuum are provided per the VA room design requirements, and per input from the VA facilities staff. Existing connections for each are located in Building 55, Corridor C1-25. Calculations were conducted and it was determined that the existing system can accommodate the outlets required for the procedure room. A combination zone valve and alarm box are provided. Local audible alarm will sound, and alarm will register in main Building 55 panel and main panel at the boiler plant.

Sanitary Design is based on the VA Plumbing Design Manual, Nov 2014 – Rev May 1, 2018. Drains and vents are provided as required for the new sinks and utility room service sinks. Coordination between civil and plumbing occurred show new sanitary sewer connections. New sanitary is provided and coordinated with the civil design.

Roof drains have been calculated and provided as required. Existing overflow drains that drain to the north side of Building 55, Room 1M-1, shall be relocated to a new exterior wall.

I. Sanitary, Storm Sewer, and Fueling (Site Utilities)

Existing sanitary and storm sewer are relocated to accommodate the new addition. Sanitary sewer service line is connected to the relocated sanitary sewer main located on the northeastern side of the building. Portion of the existing storm sewer system are realigned around the west and north sides of the new building addition.

Roof stormwater runoff is conveyed using roof drains, gutters, and downspouts then discharged at grade. Heat tracing within building limits is proposed for all gutters, downspouts, and stormwater piping/drains exposed to freezing temperatures. Surface stormwater runoff is collected and treated in three (2) water quality control features before release into the storm sewer system.

Stormwater detention is provided to reduce developed stormwater runoff rates to prevent surcharging the downstream storm sewer infrastructure.

To offset limitations of refueling hose length, a remote fueling stand-pipe system has been designed to accommodate the added distance from the revised parking area to the existing generator tank in Building 55 Generator Building.

This fuel standpipe system includes a five-gallon double wall spill containment manhole, 2 inch diameter camlok fittings, semi-rigid double wall secondary containment piping, anti-syphon and shutoff valves and in-line leak detector system.

J. HVAC

The HVAC design is based on the HVAC Design Manual, November 1, 2017 – Rev March 1, 2020. The floor plan includes a mechanical room sized for one Air Handling Unit (AHU) to provide conditioned air to the space via Variable Air

Volume terminal units. The basis of design for all equipment will match Building 55 design documents. Valhalla has calculated that the existing chilled water pump can provide chilled water to the new AHU and fan coils. Chilled water coils were selected at a 20F change, to match the existing chilled water system. This was confirmed based on existing test and balance data provided by the VA Staff.

The existing building 55 heating water system is not sized for the new expansion. The steam PRV is sized for the expansion, and LPS steam is used for new heating water heat exchangers and AHU humidifier. Glycol heating water will not be required as the mixed air temperature is above freezing. A mixing box has been selected at the unit to ensure proper blending of outside and return air.

Air intake, relief and exhaust shall be through gravity intake and exhaust ventilators through the roof of the new building.

The AHU heating coil was initially selected as a heating water coil. The selected heating coil is having turn down issues due to the relatively high return air temperature. Valhalla received approval from the VA to use a steam Integral Face and Bypass steam coil. This benefits the design by lowering the pump and heat exchanger costs both first cost and recurring electrical costs.

The HVAC Design Manual does not have a specific urgent care AHU or room data sheet. Valhalla believes the Patient Care Data sheets starting on 6-109 would best serve the Urgent Care Suite. Valhalla will supplement requirements from other data sheets as required to meet specific usages. An example of this is the negative pressure isolation room which will use the emergency care unit room data sheet, 6-64. From the data, all normal patient rooms are provided at 2 outside air changes with minimum 6 total air changes.

Trane TRACE 700 has been utilized to produce system, zone, and room by room calculations of the expected heating and cooling loads. This data has been used to determine final sizing of all HVAC equipment. These calculations were used to determine if radiant panels are required for heating any of the spaces. Any space with greater than 210 BTUH/LF of exterior wall will required radiant panels.

Only one area requires radiant panels, the window load is being partially met by the linear slot diffusers in C-101, however, due to limitations in throw at heating CFM requirements, radiant panels were added to the design. CT room HVAC requirements have been designed around a cooling load of 45,000 BTUH. If possible, the VA should confirm the final CT selected against the cooling load shown.

The basis of design for the controls is an extension of the Building 55 JCI network. The contract documents require that the controls contractor provide any additional network capacity required for the expanded controls equipment.

Valhalla will include bipolar ionization for the design of this AHU. This system uses electricity to create ions that kill pathogens in the air and that can form on the cooling coils. Air pre-filters at MERV 7 and 11, and a MERV 14 after-filter will still be provided as required by the HVAC Design Manual.

For the COMM/IT room, the HVAC design manual indicates 2 sources of cooling for this room. Valhalla has shown split system AC units to cool this room. 3 systems were needed to meet the full capacity at N+1 redundancy. Some manufacturers can meet this requirement with two larger units. This would be acceptable and would be coordinated via shop drawings by the GC.

K. Electrical, Lighting & Technology

The electrical distribution for the facility originates from one new electrical room strategically located to minimize distribution equipment size and conductor size. The new normal power distribution equipment is served with new circuit breakers housed in existing Distribution Board DP-55-R located in room 1M-1b of Building 55. The new mechanical equipment is fed from new breakers provided in existing buckets in existing normal power MCC/55-1, as required, housed in Mechanical Room 1M-1 of Building 55. Valhalla is using load information presented in the existing drawings which were provided by the

VHA.

The applicable site and facility electrical items are shown grounded in compliance with VHA Jefferson Barracks standards and the latest version of the NEC. The ground system is connected throughout the facility and connected to a parent ground bar in the new electrical room. The new ground bar is connected to the main ground bar in existing Electrical Room 1M-1C in Building 55. A Franklin style lightning protection design is included for the new facility, including surge-suppression devices on electrical panelboards and ground rods tied to the existing grounding system.

The Equipment, Life Safety, and Critical emergency loads are energized from an existing 500kW/625kVA, 480V/277V, 3Φ, 4W diesel generator housed in Building 55 Generator Building. Currently, the generator is loaded to 13% of its capacity and appears to have sufficient capacity to accommodate the additional loads. The emergency loads are served via the existing generator switchboard GSB/55-, located in room 1M-1C of Building 55, through existing Distribution Boards DP/55-LS1, DP/55-CR1, and DP/55-EQ1 also located in room 1M-1C of Building 55. Similarly, the new emergency mechanical equipment utilize VFD’s and disconnects and are served from existing buckets in existing emergency power MCC-55-1E, as required, housed in Mechanical Room 1M-1 of Building 55.

A dedicated panel is provided in the IT room, fed from the existing Equipment Branch 55A-1EQ1P/E Panel located in room 152 of Building 55A, for the IT equipment. Feeders are laid in the interstitial space above the ceiling. This design is currently incorporating clash prevention coordination with mechanical and telecommunication disciplines.

Three rooms, RM 123, RM 125, and RM 128, reserved for mental health, must adhere to MHEOCC standards.

Provisions are shown made for the future installation of CT equipment.

Complete design for the CT installation is dependent on final selection of equipment manufacturer and receipt of vendor drawings as part of a future project.

The lighting for the new facility consists of LED fixtures with digital controls. It is the intent of the design to emulate or match the fixtures from Building 55, as much as possible, based on the Construction Drawings from Building 55. The emergency lighting is fed from the emergency panel in the new electrical room which is served from the emergency generator distribution system in Building 55.

The telecommunications system requires construction of a new telecommunications room. This requires new fiber-optic, UTP and possibly coaxial backbone cable with dual independent redundant pathways to Bldg 55 main telecom room or DMARC/NID 1B104. All OIT standards based on the nationwide EHRM initiative. Pathways and CAT6A infrastructure cable are distributed throughout the facility for voice/data, CCTV, wireless access points

(WAP’s) and video services (MATV). Other low voltage systems including Nurse

Call, Access Controls, PA, and Mass Notification system components utilize select cable types as specified for each. A basis of design constitutes proper coordination of all campus wide systems to connect the new building equipment, software, license, and programming to match existing.

Refer to Division 27 Specs and OIT Structured Cabling Guidelines.

Refer to Division 28 Specs and Physical Security Guidelines.

Local Area Network (LAN):

Local Area Network is designed to adhere to the OIT guidelines for Pathways & Spaces, Riser Fiber Optic Cabling, and Horizontal CAT 6A Infrastructure serving OIT provided electronics and peripheral devices. This shall include:

1. Telecommunications Ground Busbar and Bonding .

2. 4 Post Channel Racks and Cable Management.

3. 1 Hr. fire rated walls lined with ¾” fire rated plywood.

4. Coordinate Power and Cooling Requirements.

5. Cable Tray and Conduit.

Biomed/Security:

The design includes the integration of systems with the Building 55 systems.

Site and new building security items were coordinated with VHA Jefferson

Barracks security staff to ensure integration of existing base standards and requirements. Turn-key Systems include Security Surveillance and Access

Control, PA, MATV, Nurse Call, and Emergency Response DAS.

1. Basis of Design determines the requirements for all like systems being utilized by the BIOMED Dept.

a. Refer to Division 28 Specs and Physical Security Design Manual.

b. Physical Access Control Systems (PACS)

c. Closed Circuit Television (Cameras)

d. Nurse Call (Code Blue)

e. Intercom (Duress)

f. Mass Notification/PA (Speakers)

g. Emergency Responder DAS (TBD)

Facility, BIOMED, and OIT Departments to provide comments during the VA design review process so that each system is cohesive to existing operations

L. Equipment

Equipment is provided by the VHA station and is documented in an Equipment Floor Plan based on the requirements of the PG-18-5 Equipment Guide List.

J. Steam Generation

Not Applicable

K. Steam Distribution (Outside)

L. Solid Waste Disposal System

M. Automatic Transport

N. Asbestos/Lead/Mold Abatement

O. Space Planning

Space Planning is based on the SEPS documentation provided to the Integrated Project Team (IPT). During the design charrette phase, there were several revisions to the program and space requirements that resulted in the designed square footage exceeding that listed in the original PFD by 7%. This overage was corrected during the 95% design phase through a Value Engineering option that reduced the building square footage. The Building Footprint Gross Area is now under the allowable area set forth in the Program For Design.

P. Critical Path Method (CPM)

Q. Estimating

A Cost Estimate is being prepared based on the most current set of drawings which has included accepted design changes as part of MOD3 and will be compared to the previous MCC of $12.4M.

R. Specifications

A clean copy of the comprehensive edited specifications have been provided using the standard sections available on the VA TIL. If a required specification section was not available on the TIL, a custom section has been included and edited to comply with VA specification standards. All sections have been edited to a 100% level for this submittal.

Issues to be resolved:

1. N/A

Information Request:

1. N/A

Respectfully submitted, Valhalla Engineering Group

Trenton Lindsley, P.E.

Professional Engineer / Project Manager cc: Amy Wallace, St. Louis VAMC Sam Lundgren, Valhalla Engineering

Attachments:

1. 100% Stamped Drawings

2. 100% Stamped Specification.

3. 100% Cost Estimate

4. QAQC Plan

5. Project Specific PG-18-15

6. Mechanical & Structural Calculations

7. Structural Calculations

8. Blast Report