Overview
The UCLA Orthopedic Hospital in Santa Monica, California contracted P2S to upgrade the telecommunications equipment in six telecom rooms. P2S also prepared a detailed report to the Health Systems Group providing an assessment of the mechanical condition of each room. This OSHPD project also included adding fiber and copper cables between the rooms, while structural conditions required the addition of steel reinforcement and raised floors in four of the rooms.
Challenge
While this started as a basic project to replace existing telecom equipment racks in six rooms, P2S was faced with a number of challenges in order to achieve the project goals, including adding fiber and copper cable between the rooms. Because this project required OSHPD approval, P2S had to find a creative solution to anchoring the equipment racks. Plus, it became evident that the existing floor would not support the new loads. This required working closely with the client to develop a creative design to accomplish our goals.
Action
P2S led the team that included a telecommunications designer and a mechanical engineer from P2S and sub-consultants for the structural and architectural design. To provide additional support for four of the six telecommunications rooms, the structural engineer developed an over-floor steel tubing arrangement where new structural tubes would be placed over the existing floors. P2S contracted an architectural firm to design a raised floor around the steel tubes. This also required reversing the door swing in four of the rooms.
Results
P2S provided the mechanical assessment report to the UCLA Health Systems Group and the drawings and specifications for the new equipment racks are in the OSHPD review process now.
