Cost
Tate's Underfloor Service Distribution system provides first and life cycle cost savings. Please feel free to review our Cost
Studies, as well as the articles listed below.
Reduced First Cost
Starting at the Bottom: Raised Access Flooring
Owner: SAP Americas
The McMorrow Sustainable Facilities Management Report, February 2011
SAP Americas opted to put all wiring and HVAC underfloor, choosing Tate Access Floors for the job. The results were better than expected. The floor-to-floor height on the original headquarters building is 16 feet, 6 inches—and the new building’s floor-to-floor height measures a mere 14 feet, which amounts to a 20%+ difference. "Because of the lowered height of the building, we saved substantially on construction costs," explains Brian Barrett, Senior Project Manager, SAP Global Facilities. "We saved money on the cost of concrete and steel and on labor."
Owner: SAP Americas
The McMorrow Sustainable Facilities Management Report, February 2011
SAP Americas opted to put all wiring and HVAC underfloor, choosing Tate Access Floors for the job. The results were better than expected. The floor-to-floor height on the original headquarters building is 16 feet, 6 inches—and the new building’s floor-to-floor height measures a mere 14 feet, which amounts to a 20%+ difference. "Because of the lowered height of the building, we saved substantially on construction costs," explains Brian Barrett, Senior Project Manager, SAP Global Facilities. "We saved money on the cost of concrete and steel and on labor."
Mechanical & HVAC Design Goes Underfloor
Green Building Focus
Using the raised access floor as a pressurized plenum for the conditioned supply air to the space in lieu of an overhead ducted system results provides considerable cost savings. This is in spite of the fact that the UFAD system does use a certain amount of ducting under the floor. In this case, the general contractor was convinced that the overall savings were sufficient to defray the additional cost of the raised access floor itself. Once this was established during early budgeting in the pre-proposal phase, the general contractor instructed his team to go ahead with this design.
Green Building Focus
Using the raised access floor as a pressurized plenum for the conditioned supply air to the space in lieu of an overhead ducted system results provides considerable cost savings. This is in spite of the fact that the UFAD system does use a certain amount of ducting under the floor. In this case, the general contractor was convinced that the overall savings were sufficient to defray the additional cost of the raised access floor itself. Once this was established during early budgeting in the pre-proposal phase, the general contractor instructed his team to go ahead with this design.
A Higher Standard: The Christman Building
ED+C, June 2010
The raised floor system was also a cost-effective solution. "Although we initially thought the use of a raised access system would add to the project's bottom line, the owner determined that it was, in reality, cost neutral," says Jeff Fedewa, project manager at The Christman Company.
ED+C, June 2010
The raised floor system was also a cost-effective solution. "Although we initially thought the use of a raised access system would add to the project's bottom line, the owner determined that it was, in reality, cost neutral," says Jeff Fedewa, project manager at The Christman Company.
Lighting the Way
Michael Nicklas, FAIA
Building Design & Construction, March 2008
Despite studies to the contrary, green buildings are perceived to cost much more than conventional buildings. However, using whole-building, whole-site approaches to both projects, Northern Guilford Middle and Reedy Fork Elementary prove that sustainability does not need to cost more.
Michael Nicklas, FAIA
Building Design & Construction, March 2008
Despite studies to the contrary, green buildings are perceived to cost much more than conventional buildings. However, using whole-building, whole-site approaches to both projects, Northern Guilford Middle and Reedy Fork Elementary prove that sustainability does not need to cost more.
Selling Green in the Spec Office Market
Building Design & Construction March 2008
"For example, the additional cost for underfloor air distribution was offset by requiring less mechanical equipment for air distribution and modular electrical distribution, says Christensen." Developer: Gary Christensen, The Christensen Corporation
"For instance, to help cover the additional first costs for the building’s underfloor air distribution system, the team reduced the height of the building by approximately one foot per floor, which 'dramatically lowered our building skin cost,' says Swearingen. 'Integrated design was a major time and money saver.'” Developer: Randy Swearingen, VP of office development with Aardex, Golden, Colorado
Building Design & Construction March 2008
"For example, the additional cost for underfloor air distribution was offset by requiring less mechanical equipment for air distribution and modular electrical distribution, says Christensen." Developer: Gary Christensen, The Christensen Corporation
"For instance, to help cover the additional first costs for the building’s underfloor air distribution system, the team reduced the height of the building by approximately one foot per floor, which 'dramatically lowered our building skin cost,' says Swearingen. 'Integrated design was a major time and money saver.'” Developer: Randy Swearingen, VP of office development with Aardex, Golden, Colorado
Modular Construction: Separating Myth from Realty
Boston Business Journal, September 2007
"Many believe a raised access floor adds a significant upfront cost to a project when used as part of an underfloor air delivery (UFAD) system. When considered as a stand alone-line item, raised flooring does represent an incremental cost to the overall project budget, but it is the offsetting cost-saving opportunities that have proven to make this design strategy a cost-effective approach."
Boston Business Journal, September 2007
"Many believe a raised access floor adds a significant upfront cost to a project when used as part of an underfloor air delivery (UFAD) system. When considered as a stand alone-line item, raised flooring does represent an incremental cost to the overall project budget, but it is the offsetting cost-saving opportunities that have proven to make this design strategy a cost-effective approach."
Reduced Life Cycle Cost
A Digital Generation Scours the Library for a Plus
Michael Kelley
libraryjournal.com, December 2010
Michael Kelley
libraryjournal.com, December 2010
The overall demand for electricity at the library-driven by everything from electronic signage to recording studios-is straining electrical systems everywhere, even at the Pentagon's libraries.But it's the plug, the lowly plug, first patented in 1904 by one Harvey Hubbell, that is, perhaps, the biggest problem. More precisely, it's the lack of outlets for those plugs and their modern contemporary, the data port, or jack."Several of our locations are doing raised floors," DC's Cooper said. "They give us the ultimate in flexibility because they let you pick up an 18" x 18"square of the floor and add an outlet at that location." There is the added benefit that heating and cooling components can also be integrated under the floor, which has environmental benefits and cost savings.
Space-Age Sustainability
Property Owner: US Federal Government
Buildings, April 2010
According to Tom Horan, vice president and site director for AECOM, the architect of record for the project, “The ground-source heat pumps are an extremely low-maintenance element of the design when compared to the chillers, boilers, and cooling towers they replace.” He also points out that the raised floor for distribution of power, data, and telecommunications will make the churn of personnel significantly less costly and disruptive. Adaptive daylighting will reduce energy costs and labor and material costs associated with lamp replacement. Solar thermal and photovoltaic systems will greatly reduce operating costs, too.
Property Owner: US Federal Government
Buildings, April 2010
According to Tom Horan, vice president and site director for AECOM, the architect of record for the project, “The ground-source heat pumps are an extremely low-maintenance element of the design when compared to the chillers, boilers, and cooling towers they replace.” He also points out that the raised floor for distribution of power, data, and telecommunications will make the churn of personnel significantly less costly and disruptive. Adaptive daylighting will reduce energy costs and labor and material costs associated with lamp replacement. Solar thermal and photovoltaic systems will greatly reduce operating costs, too.
The Value of Good Design
Property Owner: Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Ashrae, 2010
In the previous Owens Corning World Headquarters, it cost an average of $1000 per person to move or realign individuals and business teams. Since all partitions, office furniture and servies in the new headquarters are a modular "kit of parts", and the services are accessible via a raised floor, today moving costs are negligible.
Property Owner: Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Ashrae, 2010
In the previous Owens Corning World Headquarters, it cost an average of $1000 per person to move or realign individuals and business teams. Since all partitions, office furniture and servies in the new headquarters are a modular "kit of parts", and the services are accessible via a raised floor, today moving costs are negligible.
Visual Tour of a LEED Gold Office Building
CSE, April 2009
"The energy performance of the building has exceeded expectations. The building modeling results estimated electric use at 363,773 kWh and gas at 7,971 therms (see Table 1). However, the building outperformed the modeling estimates by 24% for electric and 46% for natural gas. Overall, the integration of the building shell, daylighting, HVAC system, and other green features provides a 25% annual savings in building operating costs for Bick Group."
CSE, April 2009
"The energy performance of the building has exceeded expectations. The building modeling results estimated electric use at 363,773 kWh and gas at 7,971 therms (see Table 1). However, the building outperformed the modeling estimates by 24% for electric and 46% for natural gas. Overall, the integration of the building shell, daylighting, HVAC system, and other green features provides a 25% annual savings in building operating costs for Bick Group."
47 million Green Regional Bus Facility Opens in Tempe
AZ Central.com, October 2007
"Valley Metro driver John W. Blake gazed around at the comfortable, glistening, spacious drivers' lounge in the brand new East Valley Bus Operations & Maintenance Facility in Tempe and had just one word to say. "Awesome!" Ken J. Anderson, project architect, said evaporative cooling is used throughout the facility to save energy and money, and an under-floor air distribution system reduces energy usage by up to 47 percent."
AZ Central.com, October 2007
"Valley Metro driver John W. Blake gazed around at the comfortable, glistening, spacious drivers' lounge in the brand new East Valley Bus Operations & Maintenance Facility in Tempe and had just one word to say. "Awesome!" Ken J. Anderson, project architect, said evaporative cooling is used throughout the facility to save energy and money, and an under-floor air distribution system reduces energy usage by up to 47 percent."
Circle of Winners: KSBA
Call Center Magazine, March 2004
"The project incorporates many of the advanced systems pioneered by KSBA including raised-access floors........ The results: improved building and occupant performance either at no additional cost or, at modest, additional capital costs with respectable returns that often = more than 300%."
Call Center Magazine, March 2004
"The project incorporates many of the advanced systems pioneered by KSBA including raised-access floors........ The results: improved building and occupant performance either at no additional cost or, at modest, additional capital costs with respectable returns that often = more than 300%."
Breath of Fresh Air from Below (subscription necessary)
Globe & Mail, Sept 2003
"For office building developers and owners in a period of high vacancy rates, raised floors can provide a competitive edge....The cost can be up to $4.80 a square foot a year. With a raised-floor system, that can drop to less than $1."
Globe & Mail, Sept 2003
"For office building developers and owners in a period of high vacancy rates, raised floors can provide a competitive edge....The cost can be up to $4.80 a square foot a year. With a raised-floor system, that can drop to less than $1."
Both First & Life Cycle Cost
Lighting the Way
High Performance Buildings, Winter 2008
"The Guilford County school district is the first in the state to develop its own set of detailed green design specifications, the G3-Guilford Green Guide. The results are now starting to come in and the first two schools....are proving to be among the best examples of sustainable design in the country. Designed to earn the Energy Star Label, it is projected to be among the top 10% in their category nationally."
High Performance Buildings, Winter 2008
"The Guilford County school district is the first in the state to develop its own set of detailed green design specifications, the G3-Guilford Green Guide. The results are now starting to come in and the first two schools....are proving to be among the best examples of sustainable design in the country. Designed to earn the Energy Star Label, it is projected to be among the top 10% in their category nationally."
Hardware Today: What's On Your Server Wishlist?
Serverwatch.com, October 2006
"Perforated tiles are generally placed in the cold aisles to bring cold air to the heat load. Most people don't give them a second thought. But Tate Access Floors of Jessup, Maryland, has found out with a new slant for this everyday item. Its GrateAir tile is an aluminum grate that has twice the open area of regular tiles. That translates into a 300-percent increase in cubic feet per minute of cold air into the server room."
Serverwatch.com, October 2006
"Perforated tiles are generally placed in the cold aisles to bring cold air to the heat load. Most people don't give them a second thought. But Tate Access Floors of Jessup, Maryland, has found out with a new slant for this everyday item. Its GrateAir tile is an aluminum grate that has twice the open area of regular tiles. That translates into a 300-percent increase in cubic feet per minute of cold air into the server room."
Underfloor Air Distribution: What Is It?
College Planning & Management, April 2005
"When it comes to comparing first cost to lifecycle cost, initial research shows that underfloor systems provide savings from improved flexibility, thus reducing costs associated with office recon-figuration, or churn."
College Planning & Management, April 2005
"When it comes to comparing first cost to lifecycle cost, initial research shows that underfloor systems provide savings from improved flexibility, thus reducing costs associated with office recon-figuration, or churn."
UFA Distribution & Access Floors
Energy Design Resources, Design Brief
"Taken together as an integrated system, the under-floor air distribution system with an access floor can afford the building owner an overall decrease in life-cycle cost."
Energy Design Resources, Design Brief
"Taken together as an integrated system, the under-floor air distribution system with an access floor can afford the building owner an overall decrease in life-cycle cost."
Walking On Air
Joseph Halza, July 2003, Today's Facility Manager
"The cost to install an underfloor system is typically less than the installed cost of a traditional overhead system.... While the amount of savings will vary with each application, it can represent significant dollars in both operating and life cycle cost."
Joseph Halza, July 2003, Today's Facility Manager
"The cost to install an underfloor system is typically less than the installed cost of a traditional overhead system.... While the amount of savings will vary with each application, it can represent significant dollars in both operating and life cycle cost."
Cost Model
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