Colleges and Universities

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Below are a few examples of colleges and universities we have provided engineering design services for.

Note: The experience provided on this page is current as of Sunday, September 29, 2019.
For our most up-to-date project experience please contact us.
Solar Cooling Absorption Chiller System
U of A Solar Cooling Absorption Chiller System
U of A Solar Cooling Absorption Chiller System U of A Solar Cooling Absorption Chiller System
  • Owner: University of Arizona
  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Delivery Method: Design-Build
  • Magazine Article: Click to download

Design of solar-thermal-fired hot water absorption chiller system. Solar thermal hot water collectors were located on the roof of the existing Student Rec Center. The new absorption chiller was fired from the solar loop water and used the existing swimming pool as a heat sink. The system provides chilled water to the University's campus-wide chilled water system while heating the pool. Project based on energy payback type contracting.

Chemistry Building Expansion
U of A Chemistry Building Expansion
U of A Chemistry Building Expansion U of A Chemistry Building Expansion U of A Chemistry Building Expansion U of A Chemistry Building Expansion
  • Owner: University of Arizona
  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Delivery Method: CM at Risk
  • Project Area: 46,800 SF

New 4-story addition to the existing Chemistry Building at the University of Arizona. Hired by the Fire Protection Contractor, KWA prepared complete fire sprinkler and standpipe system design drawings including hydraulic calculations. A fire pump design was also prepared and incorporated into the project. The General Contractor hired KWA to concurrently prepare entire coordination drawings for mechanical, plumbing, process lab piping, electrical, structural & architectural disciplines.

Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center
U of A Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center
U of A Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center U of A Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center U of A Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center U of A Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center
  • Owner: University of Arizona
  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Delivery Method: CM at Risk
  • Project Area: 17,600 SF

HVAC, plumbing and performance fire protection design for award-winning new split-level multi-use facility. Facility consisted of library style space for the public, meeting rooms, offices and archive storage housing priceless poetry works. HVAC included stand-alone heating water systems, campus chilled water systems, humidification systems, BACnet control system, and custom air handling units. Special considerations were given to the archive storage areas - designs included tight temperature and humidity control systems. American Institute of Architects Southern Arizona chapter 2008 Citation Award. Featured in 8.2008 No. 47 edition of Urbanism and Architecture (Chinese).

Memorial Student Union and Bookstore
U of A Memorial Student Union and Bookstore
U of A Memorial Student Union and Bookstore U of A Memorial Student Union and Bookstore U of A Memorial Student Union and Bookstore U of A Memorial Student Union and Bookstore
  • Owner: University of Arizona
  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Delivery Method: Design-Build
  • Project Area: 395,000 SF

Hired by the Fire Protection Contractor, KWA prepared complete fire sprinkler and standpipe system design including hydraulic calculations for the new Student Union and Bookstore Building. Project design included phasing to allow for existing Student Center to remain occupied and protected during construction.

Arizona Stadium North End Zone Expansion
Arizona Stadium North End Zone Expansion
Arizona Stadium North End Zone Expansion
  • Owner: University of Arizona
  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Delivery Method: CM at Risk
  • Project Area: 73,000 SF

Prepared fire protection performance specifications including drawings depicting sprinkler head layouts for construction coordination, details for a new fire pump system installation, and all riser & drain piping configuration details. Standpipe systems were both dry manual and wet manual combined with the wet-pipe fire sprinkler systems. Exterior areas were designed to have double interlocked pre-action system protection.

Gloria Sheldon Technical Arts Building
Gloria Sheldon Technical Arts Building
Gloria Sheldon Technical Arts Building Gloria Sheldon Technical Arts Building
  • Owner: Central Arizona College
  • Location: Coolidge, AZ
  • Delivery Method: Design-Bid-Build
  • Project Area: 38,000 SF

HVAC and plumbing design of new two-story technical arts classroom building. Building consists of classrooms, computer labs, science labs, offices and lecture hall/auditorium. Design included acid waste and vent systems and fume hoods. Controls for new building designed to integrate into campus open protocol system.

U of A Student Recreation Center Lobby Renovations
U of A Student Recreation Center Lobby Renovations
U of A Student Recreation Center Lobby Renovations
  • Owner: University of Arizona
  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Delivery Method: CM at Risk
  • Project Area: 17,000 SF

Interior renovations to 17,000 square foot area of existing two-story recreation center. Design include complete replacement of the HVAC systems serving the area, addition of HVAC systems, replacement of the fire sprinkler system, and new plumbing including a grease interceptor and new sewer connection in 6th Street. Fast track construction timeframe (12+ hour days, 6-7 days per week) and KWA's construction administration was very responsive.

More Examples

McKale Center Renovations

HVAC and Plumbing design with Fire Protection performance specification preparation for major renovations to existing athletic facility. 31,000 square feet of existing area on multiple levels was renovated into projects that included student computer classrooms, offices, and specialty locker facilities. This multi-phased project spanned 3 years of construction. During construction, KWA was hired by the Fire Sprinkler Contractor to prepare complete design drawings for the fire sprinkler modifications.

Cochise College Willcox Center

HVAC, plumbing and performance fire protection design for new stand-alone educational and administration building including spaces for general classrooms, computer classrooms, science classrooms (wet lab), public gathering area, and administrative support space. Multiple systems were investigated during design to select the most appropriate type, given the owner's maintenance and budget allowances. Design included rooftop packaged units with custom-designed air device systems to integrate into architectural ceiling and fit within the interstitial space. Plumbing included wet lab design with acid waste and vent, gas turrets, and emergency shower. BACnet controls, integrated with the College's central workstation, included as an alternate.

Pima College West Campus

Complete fire protection design for retrofit of automatic fire sprinkler protection throughout three existing multiple story classroom buildings and one new building.

Pima College Aviation Tech

Complete fire sprinkler system design including fire service underground and hydraulic calculations for new aircraft hanger and classroom facility located on Tucson Airport Authority property adjacent to Tucson International Airport.

Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Fire Protection Retrofit

Complete fire protection design, including hydraulic calculations and dimensioned drawings for existing 2 story sorority building of combustible construction with two partial basement areas with approximately 18,000 SF of occupied space. Work included extensive field verification to determine optimal routing of fire sprinkler piping to minimize visual impact & conflicts with existing architectural elements.

Memorial Student Union North Corridor & Patio

Design of waste, domestic water, natural gas, and chilled and heating water upgrades to approximately 18,000 square feet area of the Student Union. Utility upgrades provided to allow for future restaurant additions in the area of work. Plumbing design also included gas piping for infrared heaters at new outdoor patio canopies.

Yuma Agriculture Center

Prepared performance specifications and sprinkler head layout for a 19,900 SF agricultural laboratory and research facility for the University of Arizona. Existing building was unenclosed shell space. Work included the development of water supply infrastructure for fire protection as well as potable water for domestic purposes.

Hillenbrand Aquatic Center Solar Thermal System

Design addition of solar thermal water heating system to supplement existing steam-fired heating system serving one million gallon competition diving pool.

Pink Berry Cafe at Memorial Student Union

Design HVAC, plumbing and performance specifications for fire protection to accommodate new restaurant tenant in existing retail area of Student Union building. Design included extensive field survey of existing conditions and several options for waste, water, and chilled water pipe designs to match existing system capacities.

Highland Parking Garage

New 465,000 square foot six-level parking structure. Prepared complete design for fire protection standpipe system, rainwater drainage systems, domestic water and waste systems, and HVAC for offices and storage rooms.

Hillenbrand Women's Softball Team Room

HVAC and plumbing design for new building consisting of lockers, team room gathering area, equipment and treatment rooms for U of A women's NCAA champion softball team. AC system included heat recovery equipment. Project also included new public toilet building. Design not constructed.

Memorial Student Union Infrastructure Report

Evaluation and report on existing waste, domestic water, natural gas, and chilled water and heating water system capacities in part of the Student Union. The report provided guidelines for future restaurant improvements in the area.

U of A Records Management & Archives

Complete fire sprinkler system design including fire service underground and hydraulic calculations. Design included high rack storage of records.

Delta Chi Fraternity Retrofit

Complete fire protection design, including hydraulic calculations and dimensioned drawings for existing 3 story fraternity house of non-combustible construction approximately 17,000 SF of occupied space. Work included extensive field verification to determine optimal routing of fire sprinkler piping to minimize visual impact & conflicts with existing architectural elements.

South End Zone Seating Expansion

Fire protection design for approximately 6000 SF of seating expansion to the south end zone area of the existing football stadium.

Student Recreation Expansion

Prepared fire protection performance specifications including drawings depicting sprinkler head layouts for construction coordination, details for fire service underground & stub-in's, and all riser & drain piping configuration details. Also provided complete design for tenant improvement to the existing portion of building at point of connection of existing to new construction.

Central Arizona College Pence Center Building

HVAC and plumbing design of renovation to existing auditorium building totaling approximately 4,200 square feet. Design included about 1,600 square feet of new work, replacement of existing air handling units to accommodate new loads, and system upgrades incorporating current campus control system and central plant requirements.

McKale Center 'A' Store Remodel

Interior renovations to existing retail store at McKale center.

Children's Education Library Mechanical Assessment

Evaluation of existing mechanical conditions and report on found deficiencies and options for modifications to suit a potential interior renovation in the area of work.

Cochise College Benson

Construction administration services for new educational building providing space for general classrooms, computer classrooms, a teaching learning center, a lab and administrative support space.

Lunar and Planetary Lab Office Renovations

Interior renovations to existing office areas. Executive offices and open work space created for OSIRIS-REx space mission program administrators.

Tyndall Parking Garage

HVAC, Plumbing, and Fire Protection design for five level 550,000 square foot parking garage. Design started by the principals of KWA at Durrant Engineers and was completed by KWA. Design scope included dry standpipe design, air conditioning and exhaust for offices and storage rooms, rainwater drainage, and office area plumbing.

Other Project Types

  • Commercial

    The KWA team provides high quality, energy efficient and budget-appropriate solutions for office buildings, financial institutions, mixed-use facilities, retail buildings... (read more)

  • Fire Protection

    KWA continues to lead in areas of Fire Protection Engineering in Southern Arizona. KWA's design experience includes wet & dry pipe, deluge, pre-action, foam, gas agent... (read more)

  • Government

    KWA has extensive experience providing engineering designs for Government projects. The KWA team is knowledgeable of the required design standards and codes... (read more)

  • Healthcare

    The KWA team has designed HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems for more than 40 healthcare and medical facilities in Arizona and New Mexico... (read more)

  • K-12 Schools

    KWA provides engineering design services for all types of education facilities, kindergarten to high school. Additionally, KWA provides commissioning and energy audits... (read more)

  • Military

    KWA has extensive experience working on military projects in Arizona and California and has vast knowledge of the federal requirements and desires for such projects... (read more)

  • Museum / Arhive

    KWA has the expertise necessary to provide designs for the tight temperature, humidity, and pressurization requirements of museum and archival facilities... (read more)

  • Places of Worship

    The KWA team understands the needs of and provides custom-taylored solutions for the high-occupancy and multi-use assembly spaces in religious projects... (read more)