ST. LOUIS, MO – The Archdiocese of Saint Louis has contracted with Integrated Facility Services (IFS) to upgrade portions of the HVAC system at the historic Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis based on design concept documents by SSC Engineering. Built in 1907 as the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic community in Saint Louis, the domed Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis contains one of the largest collections of mosaic art in the western hemisphere. The upgrade to the Cathedral Basilica HVAC system is funded by the Archdiocese of Saint Louis Annual Catholic Appeal, the Friends of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and Cathedral Basilica Parish.
IFS will replace HVAC equipment and install new digital controls to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality, enhance reliability and control humidity in the church. IFS will install a new air-cooled chiller and replace a single chilled water pump with new dual-duty standby chilled-water pumps for redundancy. They also will replace the air handler unit (AHU) for the altar sanctuary and install new controls on that unit and three existing AHUs, originally installed in 1912. To conserve energy, IFS will add variable frequency drives (VFD) to the new air handling unit and pumps. Much of the work will take place in the Cathedral Basilica’s central plant, which is connected to the basement of the Cathedral via a tunnel under the parking lot.
The project initially began as a chiller rebuild to improve reliability when the existing water-cooled chiller failed. The Archdiocese wanted to review the cooling system and SSC Engineering was engaged to conduct an initial hydronic test of the pumping/piping, review the cooling equipment and provide energy efficiency, cooling and humidity options and strategies. SSC Engineering created a multi-phased solution for the cooling system upgrade that will be implemented over the next few years. The first phase of the project is scheduled to complete early summer 2018.
ABOUT INTEGRATED FACILITY SERVICES (IFS)
Integrated Facility Services (IFS) is a full-service HVAC, plumbing, piping, fire protection and building automation firm with more than 270 professional and trade employees. Established in 1966, IFS delivers integrated mechanical engineering and construction, installation, service and planned maintenance, and energy conservation solutions to ensure occupant comfort, improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. Named a 2016 Midwest Top 50 Specialty Contractor by Engineering News Record and ranked as the sixth largest mechanical contractor in the St. Louis region, IFS serves clients in Missouri and Illinois, with offices in St. Louis and Columbia. For more information, call (636) 680-2100 or (573) 442-6100 and visit www.intfs.com.
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