Rhino

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NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Owner

NASA

Location

Greenbelt, MD
United States

Project Information

3 million SF
28 Buildings

Sector

Rhino FPE was engaged to conduct a conditions assessment of 28 buildings at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Facilities included large-scale satellite testing facilities, clean rooms, laboratories, office buildings, and other spaces. Our assessment encompassed a code compliance review as well as evaluation of each building with respect to structural elements and life safety features including fire alarm and fire suppression systems, and emergency egress. Facilities were evaluated based on various building codes and regulations including IBC 2006, NFPA, NASA Safety Standard for Fire Protection, and other nationally recognized standards as appropriate.

Rhino developed a Conditions Deficiencies Report detailing our findings as well as a prioritized list of recommendations for remediation with construction cost estimates.

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Herbert C. Hoover Building Renovation

Owner

U.S. General Services
Administration

Location

Washington, DC
United States

Project Information

1.8 million SF
Scope: Phases 4-8
renovation to modernize, while preserving historic spaces

Sector

Completed in 1932 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the Herbert C. Hoover Building is currently undergoing an 8-phased renovation to modernize infrastructure and create open and flexible office space. The building, headquarters for the U.S. Department of Commerce, will remain fully occupied during the renovation through the use of swing space.

Rhino provided life safety and code consulting for existing building construction (specifying fire rated partitions/walls and egress components (stair width, exit passageways, etc.) and design of fire protection systems. Key elements were maintaining fire protection and life safety functionality in existing spaces during construction and preservation of historical building features.

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Fallswood Condominium

Owner

The Fallswood Condominium Complex

Location

Rockville, MD
United States

Project Information

375,000 SF / 200 units
Phased construction in occupied environment
Completed ahead of schedule

Sector

The overarching objective in this project was to quickly replace a non-functioning and antiquated fire alarm system to satisfy Montgomery County’s life safety mandate in this two-tower, 13-story residential condominium complex with three-level parking garage.

As Owner’s Representative, Rhino conducted a conditions and life cycle assessment of the antiquated fire alarm since spare parts were no longer available, provided life safety code consulting, devised and negotiated a phased approach within the County time frame mandate and Owner’s financial limitations/budget, vetted vendor proposals, provided construction project management as well as commissioning and witness testing. An challenge was coordinating / obtaining access to individual units for construction as well as minimizing disruption to residents and maintaining good communication among all parties (i.e., Owner, Property Manager, and condo owners/occupants).

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Augusta Health – Conditions Assessment

Owner

Augusta Health

Location

Fisherville, VA
United States

Project Information

700,000 SF
Multiple Hospital and Medical Building Usage
atrium, special care pavilions, operating rooms

Sector

Augusta Health is required to comply with Joint Commission accreditation requirements and Life Safety code inspection. Rhino FPE was selected by the Owner to provide a conditions assessment of six buildings (A, B, C, D, Cancer Center, and Medical Office Building) in support of this effort. Our assessment encompassed a code compliance review as well as evaluation of construction and the fire protection and life safety features of each building.

Several challenges made the survey, evaluation, and analysis a complex task. Among the challenges: Multiple buildings constructed/renovated with differing codes, several use classifications, inter-connected buildings, and special building features or use characteristics (atrium, special care pavilions, operating rooms, etc.). Rhino developed a Conditions Deficiency Report detailing our findings as well as a prioritized list of recommendations with cost estimates for correction.