Principal Financial Group 801 Grand HVAC Upgrades

Owned by Principal Financial Group, 801 is a 43-story commercial office building with executive office and retail space. Completed in 1991 the Automation Systems and Smoke Control System exceed expected life and needed an upgrade. Principal chose Baker Group to provide a complete overhaul of the Automation Systems serving the central Chilled Water Plant, Air Handling Systems, Building Pressure Controls, Active Smoke Control Systems, Elevator and Stairway Pressurization Systems, and Atrium Smoke Control System in an active building with zero impact to the owner and tenants.

During the active upgrade Baker group provided:

• Complete HVAC control upgrades of the central air handling systems, chilled water and condenser water systems, and building pressure controls
• Complete Smoke Control system upgrades of the active floor pressurization, stairway pressurization, hoist way pressurization and atrium exhaust systems. The smoke control upgrade includes a new standalone smoke control network and Fire Fighters Smoke Control Panel.
• Variable speed drives upgrades for the central air handling units, cooling towers, and exhaust systems were retrofitted with
• Added air flow monitoring, building pressure control, and demand control ventilation capabilities
• Worked with the owner’s team to carefully coordinate afterhours work in occupied areas and night and weekend shutdowns of all critical equipment to ensure the owner and tenants had zero disruptions.