Allen County Public Library

Challenge

In 2001 Allen County Public Library (ACPL), one of the top U.S. libraries, and its 14 locations had a varied collection of HVAC systems, controls, fire alarm, access, security and other systems. With the planned addition of 127,000 square feet and renovation of 240,000 square feet at the main library in Fort Wayne, ACPL used the opportunity to upgrade, standardize and integrate buildings, systems and equipment.

Solution

ACPL called on MSKTD & Associates to develop an upgrade, integration and construction plan. Jim Kelley, P.E. and Senior Mechanical Engineer at MSKTD, wrote the RFP and specifications that allowed suppliers to bid the projects, as required when public tax funds are involved. All suppliers could bid, but also had to prove that their products had open communications protocol allowing easy integration with all other systems. Each top-end building automation system supplier had to prove their system could integrate with, monitor, report, trend and control other makes of controls. Ultimately only Trane met the specs. Trane literally collected and mounted other makes of controllers on demonstration boards to prove Trane capabilities and earn the systems integration contract.

Results

Work began on the main library in May, 2004, reopening to the public in January 2007. Branch locations were upgraded in stages during those three years. Using a Tracer Summit™ ES Web-based, multiple buildings facilities management system, Trane provided single-source responsibility, control, monitoring, management and interoperability for these systems throughout ACPL buildings.

• In addition to supplying two new, reliable and efficient Trane Series R™ chillers and an energy-saving CALMAC ice storage system for the main library, Trane monitors and controls a number of Trane HVAC systems at branch locations for patron comfort and materials preservation.
• Monitor/control lighting systems for best lighting and efficiency.
• Fire Alarm: Trane partnered with Esco Communications to monitor/control fire protection equipment throughout the library system.
• Evacuation Paging: Provide evacuation directions building-wide in fire or other emergency.
• Access Control: Trane and Esco Communications partnered to monitor and control personnel access at all controlled doors.
• Intrusion Security: Monitor internal/external access points.
• Closed Circuit TV: Monitor and control in real time internal/external points.
• Monitor electric consumption at service entrance and other loads.
• Elevator Control: Monitor, intercept floor-to-floor service requests. Coordinates elevators during emergencies and while operating on emergency power.
• Monitor/control backup and emergency power equipment, including generators which are also used for load-shaving to maintain constant demand.
• Lift Station Monitoring: Monitor/control pumps, basin level alarms and controls for sanitary, storm and other gray-water systems.
• Maintenance Control & Management: Monitor all serviceable equipment for run time, start/stops and other metrics to develop and initiate preventive maintenance procedures. ACPL chose Trane for a maintenance contract to preserve system continuity and single-source responsibility. ACPL is exploring more Tracer Summit™ system uses such as paging personnel if systems like the automatic book drop/return system go down.
  

ACPL is one of the most sophisticated, extensive integration projects completed by Trane. Jim Gumbel, ACPL Properties Manager, said, “We can easily monitor and control the main library and branch locations and make operating changes very quickly and easily. We are seeing significant energy savings. In the past HVAC systems ran 24 hours a day. Now, 90 percent of those units go into night setback. We have better lighting control for additional energy savings. We’ve worked with Trane many years and were very comfortable when this project went to Trane. Trane stands behind their products. If there is an issue, they’re just a phone call away.”

Jeffrey Krull, ACPL Director, said, “The new systems are a dramatic change from the hodge-podge of systems that we had. We now have unified, integrated systems that make it easy to monitor and control all of the buildings within the library system. It gives us flexibility for future expansion and changes in equipment and control systems. We truly are getting the most benefit for the taxpayer’s money.”

About Allen County Public Library

ACPL has served Fort Wayne and area since 1895. Today it includes the main library in downtown Fort Wayne, 13 branches in the city and outlying communities, and a warehouse/IT services center. Fort Wayne has been cited as the Best Read City in the United States by Places Rated Almanac, due largely to ACPL’s collections. One of the finest and largest publicly-held genealogy centers in the U.S., ACPL is also well-known for its rare books collection and is a home to Internet Archive, an independent operation that is part of a network of scanning centers that are putting rare books and documents on the Internet for public use. ACPL was recently named a co-recipient of collections of the Abraham Lincoln Museum of Fort Wayne that closed after 80 years. ACPL will receive numerous documents, photos and books from the collection that is valued at more than $20 million.

About MSKTD & Associates

Based in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, MSKTD & Associates provide comprehensive design services including in-house architecture, interior design, mechanical, electrical, civil and structural engineering and cost estimating. Their portfolio includes a wide array of project types including healthcare, educational, industrial/food processing, corporate and community facilities.