Projects

National Aquarium in Baltimore

National Aquarium pier 4 building and surrounding urban waterfront

Results By the Numbers

  • $80,900/year in energy cost savings
  • $21,300 in utility incentives
  • Replacement of two 200-ton chillers with six 70-ton variable speed chiller modules
  • Replacement of three cast-iron boilers with five high-efficiency condensing boilers

Energy Design for Energy Savings

Global Facility Solutions (GFS) provided engineering design services for the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD, as part of a turn-key energy savings project implemented by Constellation, an Exelon Company. GFS created Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing (MEP) engineering designs for the renovation and upgrade of the central chiller and boiler plants serving both the Pier 3 Aquarium and Pier 4 Pavilion facilities.

Project Objectives

  • Replace aging, inefficient HVAC equipment with modern, energy-efficient systems
  • Ensure redundancy and reliability in the boiler plant for critical aquarium operations
  • Achieve significant energy cost savings and utility incentives

Scope of Work

  • Create MEP engineering designs for chiller and boiler plant upgrades
  • Provide construction administration services
  • Commission new systems and verify performance

Solutions

Comprehensive MEP engineering design services, including:

  • Design of a free-cooling heat exchanger for winter operation
  • Specification of high-efficiency chiller modules and condensing boilers
  • Integration of variable speed pumps and DDC controls
  • Production of permit drawings and energy savings analysis
  • Construction administration, commissioning, and performance verification

The upgraded central plants, designed by GFS and implemented by Constellation, became operational in April 2015, delivering significant energy cost savings and improved reliability for the National Aquarium’s critical operations.