Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR) Teaching & Research Laboratory

Our team is providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEPFP) basis-of-design and peer review services for a new 188,000 ft² teaching and research laboratory for the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University. The laboratories will be highly flexible to support various research and teaching activities and equipment, including the installation of additional chemical fume hoods and other exhaust devices with only minor modifications to the facility’s HVAC system. 

To further improve flexibility, particularly the ability to convert non-lab areas to labs in the future, the facility’s HVAC system will consist of one common supply air system (as opposed to a separate lab and non-lab systems) with exhaust energy recovery. When combined with spare exhaust capacity and designated space in the mechanical penthouse to install an additional energy recovery unit for increased exhaust capacity, this configuration maximizes system flexibility and energy efficiency. 

Our team has studied several sustainable design features for incorporation into the design, including the following: 

• Exhaust air energy recovery using both variable speed total enthalpy recovery wheels (general exhaust) and a glycol run-around loop (fume hood exhaust) 
• Efficiency fume hood design utilizing a combination of variable flow fume hoods and low-flow constant volume fume hoods 
• Heating hot water system temperature optimization in response to outdoor air temperature 
• Occupancy sensor setback of lighting and HVAC setpoints 
• Variable flow process cooling water loop for closed-circuit equipment cooling and/or chilled beams or fan coil units for supplemental sensible cooling 
• LED lighting with daylight harvesting controls 
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures