Cayuga Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a health and residential community classified as a Group I-2 primary occupancy used for medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing, or custodial care on a 24-hour basis of more than five persons who are not capable of self-preservation.  Built in the 1960s and expanded in the 1970s, this facility has not seen capital improvements for over 30 years.  Popli Design Group (PDG) was retained to provide HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, electrical, and life safety systems to support this renovation for new, functional spaces.

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PDG’s team of engineers overhauled the mechanical systems, removing existing electric heat and requirements for window air conditioners.  High efficiency boiler/chiller systems and 4-pipe fan coil units were utilized to provide individual resident comfort control.  Energy recovery units supply ventilation to occupied areas as well as exhaust toilet rooms.  The community, dining, and administrative areas are ventilated, heated, and cooled with gas-fired rooftop air handling units.

Plumbing scope of work involved utilizing water conserving fixtures throughout the building.  The domestic hot water system utilizes an indirect heat exchanger fired from the condensing boilers.  All sanitary, storm, and water systems are connected to existing utilities; a new gas service was provided and coordinated with the utility company. The entire building is protected with a wet-pipe sprinkler system, which was renovated to meet the new building program.

Electric service is provided to the building by a utility-owned, pad-mounted transformer. The entire building is connected to a diesel standby generator system with an automatic transfer switch in the event of a power failure. PDG provided energy-efficient, compact fluorescent LED and fluorescent troffers, utilizing electronic ballasts and energy saving lamps. Convenience outlets, data, and telephone jacks were installed throughout the building. An automatic and manual addressable fire alarm system consisting of smoke and heat detection devices and horn/strobe indicating devices was added, along with a building-wide nurse call and rescue assistance system.