Making buildings work... A case study of an innovative cold air retrofit

The first-cost focus of new construction can often result in buildings that don't work-particularly the HVAC systems. This article presents an innovative cold air retrofit that corrected designed-in HVAC inadequacies in an office building. By utilizing cold air, the retrofit overcame insufficient airflow and insufficient cooling capacity at the air handling units, thereby avoiding a massive- and very disruptive-retrofit of a fully occupied office building. The resulting retrofit cost less than half of the conventional alternatives and was easily implemented during weekend hours. It resulted in a building that actually worked for the first time since its original construction some 15 years prior The author's more than two decades of experience in restoration and remediation of existing buildings provides some valuable insight into how to creatively and cost effectively fix nagging comfort problems in existing buildings. The author additionally provides some reflection on the energy efficiency impact of the project and energy related implications for new building designers.