Overview
P2S served as prime consultant for a new chilled water central plant for Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, California. The central plant was constructed within an existing building and houses the chiller, electrical and control room. An adjacent yard houses the cooling tower, condenser water system, make-up water and filtration systems. Chilled water is provided to the campus through an underground and aboveground distribution system.
Challenge
The existing HVAC system for buildings on Paramount Pictures’ campus consisted of many individual packaged or window type air conditioning units. These units were inefficient, high maintenance and consumed significant energy resources. Paramount Studios’ goal was to move away from these inefficient individual systems to a centralized, energy efficient and easier to maintain central plant.
P2S collaborated with Paramount Pictures and its master-planning engineer to identify and develop a suitable location for a new centralized cooling plant. Since Paramount Pictures is an operational studio, it was important to minimize sound dissipation from new mechanical equipment to the lot. The design of the new central plant has minimal visual impact and a pleasing aesthetic.
Action
To address the sound and aesthetic requirements of the project, an existing "Tin Shed" building was selected to house the new cooling only central plant.
Key features to the plant design and construction included:
Architectural/Acoustic system
- So not to alter the exterior facade of the iconic Paramount “Tin Shed”, P2S coordinated closely with the architect to design the central plant within the "Tin Shed" with minimal exterior modification. The interior walls and doors was designed for no sound mitigation to the exterior. Fifty-foot high sound walls were designed for the open yard housing the cooling tower
Mechanical system
- P2S used a flexible design so that the chiller plant could accommodate four additional chillers, as demand dictates
- Phase one included one 750-ton variable speed chiller, primary-variable flow chilled water distribution system
- The yard for the cooling tower was similarly designed to allow for expansion and houses one cooling tower, condenser water pumps, distribution piping, and filtration and make-up water systems. Ultimately it will house an two additional cooling towers. Additional cooling towers will be placed at the opposite end of the building
- The chilled water distribution system was designed to connect to one building under Phase one. Future phases will expand the chilled water connection to other buildings as capacity is added to the central plant
Electrical system
- Power source to the "Tin Shed" was provided from Paramount's main substation via underground electrical distribution system
- The new electrical room houses the 4160-volt substation, which provides power to all mechanical equipment
Results
The project was so successful that Paramount Pictures noted “they can’t hear or see the central plant and wondered if the equipment is operating because it’s so quiet.” Also key to our client’s satisfaction is the fact that P2S completed the design on schedule and within the allocated budget. Paramount is eager to have P2S begin phase two of this major project very soon.
