Commercial + Industrial Design | Fall 2023

Commercial + Industrial Design Project Portfolio

About CMTA

CMTA was founded in 1968 and is recognized as a national leader in high performance, sustainable design within the engineering industry. Our firm has leveraged our expertise in high performance, energy-efficient design into a nationwide practice that includes consulting engineering, performance contracting and zero energy design, technology solutions, and commissioning services.

CMTA prides itself on its data-driven, performance-based design process. Performance-based design uses benchmarking of our projects’ real-world energy usage as a challenge to our engineers to continuously improve energy performance. CMTA’s first signature performance-based design project was Richardsville Elementary School, the nation’s first operational Zero Energy school. Since then, our Zero Energy projects have led our firm into the national spotlight.

Because we walk the talk, we are true partners vested in sharing our knowledge with our clients. Our corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky and our Lexington, Kentucky offices are both zero energy buildings with perfect ENERGY STAR scores. And our CMTA Energy Solutions corporate office in Louisville is the first in the U.S. to operate as Zero Energy and achieve WELL Gold certification. CMTA strives to create strong relationships with building owners and managers while also focusing on the health and comfort of the people who live, work, and play in spaces we design.

Commercial Spaces

When designing systems for office buildings, we place emphasis on the balance between comfort, sustainability, and budget. The cyclical nature of office building design trends has encouraged us to design adaptable mechanical and electrical systems. As design consultants, we offer solutions to challenges, such as providing flexibility to accommodate future tenant requirements.

The properties of light — intensity, direction, and color temperature — provide an opportunity to create an atmosphere reflective of company culture and vision while maintaining visual comfort. We collaborate with the design team to create a high-quality lighting system that is unique, functional, and balanced at the intersection of economics, human needs, and architecture. Our team of Lighting Certified Designers provide beautiful, modern, and sustainable lighting options that adapt to each space’s need.

CMTA frequently contributes to technical publications, including the ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) for achieving Zero Energy in small to medium office buildings. This publication was co-Authored by CMTA Vice President Tony Hans, and features six case studies on Zero Energy Ready facilities — three of the six facilities were designed by CMTA.

Microsoft, Vista Office Building Fargo, North Dakota

Mastercard Applied Predictive Technologies

Arlington, Virginia

Analytics software company Applied Predictive Technologies, Inc. (APT) was acquired by Mastercard in 2015. Around that time, their headquarters space needed a new design to better support collaboration and flexible work styles.

APT used data to help design the office, and interactive displays are found throughout the space. The chaos and randomization of technology is organized into interconnected patterns and represented through custom design. The lobby focal point is a futuristic pixelated light fixture juxtaposed with rich wood and a living wall behind the reception

desk. This pixelated light element is repeated above the four-story staircase.

The MEP scope included lighting with all LED and modern lighting controls, power design, new VAVs for space comfort control, critical cooling utilizing chilled water base building system for server rooms, and plumbing design to support the build out of pantries, the mother’s room, and cafe.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2018

Size: 128,000 SF

Project Type: Renovation

CMTA Energy Solutions Corporate Office

Louisville, Kentucky

At CMTA, we’ve built our reputation on research and data-driven design. So when it was time to design a new office building, we decided to go beyond high-performance design techniques to engineer a building showcasing health and wellness strategies.

The two-story, 25,000 SF building is designed and constructed to WELL Gold standards. Special features include an approved alternative compliance path (AAP) for glare reduction through building orientation, space flexibility, and site. These features eliminated the prescriptive feature 56 requirement for window view shading and daylight management on the north façade yielding cost savings.

The lighting systems are designed to support the energy goals of the project while improving the work environment. LED lighting with a color temperature of 4000K is designed to support circadian rhythm and reduce glare.

CMTA has carefully documented the cost of targeted WELL credits to demonstrate to clients how to pursue WELL standards in high-performance buildings cost-effectively.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2018

Size: 25,000 SF

Cost: $4,400,000

Project Type: New Facility

Awards/Certifications:

WELL Gold

Zero Energy

Houston Endowment Foundation Headquarters

Houston, Texas

Houston Endowment is one of the largest private foundations in Texas. CMTA was the engineer of record for all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology services for the organization. The goals for the project were focused on providing healthy operational space for its staff, accessible and inspiring meeting spaces, and flexible and innovative engagement facilities for convening and collaborating with its community partners. A holistic approach to design, engineering, and operations was applied to achieve exceptionally low energy use and reduced emissions, following the guidelines of the 2030 NetZero Challenge.

To reduce energy use intensity and meet sustainability goals, a closed-loop

geothermal wellfield was installed on-site to support heating and cooling for the new facility. An innovative radiant cooling concrete slab and raised floor air conditioning system are used to achieve thermal comfort for occupants. In addition, a photovoltaic system was designed to provide a renewable source of energy for the facility.

Project at a Glance Completion: 2022

Size: 40,000 SF

Cost: $20,000,000

Project Type: New Facility Awards/Certifications: Zero Energy Targeted

Mountrail Williams Electric Cooperative Headquarters

Williston, North Dakota

The Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) headquarters in Williston, North Dakota, had outgrown their original building and needed a new space to accommodate more occupants and specialized equipment and technology. Located amidst the center of the Western North Dakota oil boom territory, it was important for the MWEC HQ to remain in its existing location. Redeveloping the existing site and designing a new four-story building helped to meet the current needs of MWEC.

The project was designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating, and being an electrical utility company, providing innovative and efficient electrical systems was imperative. Obernel collaborated with the design team to create high-quality, unique, and functional light fixtures with sophisticated lighting control and sensor systems.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2018

Size: 92,000 SF

Cost: $37,000,000

Project Type: New Facility

Awards/Certifications: LEED Silver

Samsung Electronics Public Affairs Division HQ

Washington, D.C.

CMTA provided full MEP, network cabling, and audio/visual design solutions for the Samsung Electronics Public Affairs division HQ fit-out. The office is a center of innovation providing opportunities to engage, support and educate government customers, policymakers and technology leaders.

Virtual reality was leveraged to support the co-design of the space with the client and act as a change-management tool for Samsung staff. This interactive office serves as a new location for the tech giant’s product marketing and patents groups, as well as a hoteling space for its clients.

The design intent is to provide an immersive experience the minute a visitor steps off the elevator. This result is achieved through a 300 SF seamlessly connected Samsung direct view LED display covering the elevator lobby ceiling. Back painted glass walls also conceal AV displays and elevator controls. With the ability to display imagery and play unique video content, the highly reflective space allows for a true sensory experience.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2018

Size: 28,500 SF

Cost: $8,000,000

Project Type: Tenant Fit-Out

McCormick Spice, the global leader in spices and flavorings, contracted our team to help plan and execute a new 380,000 SF headquarters to consolidate over 1,000 staff members spread between four buildings into a single facility. McCormick’s goal for the project was to improve collaboration and communication across its departments and create a facility that represented the brand principles of sustainability, purity, innovation, and passion for flavor.

The building is designed to operate at 38 EUI. Solar domestic water heating and rough-ins for a future 915 KW solar photovoltaic parking canopy system will offset over 25% of the predicted annual energy use for the building. Our Consulting and Commissioning teams made the owner’s goals a reality.

In addition, CMTA provided MEP design services for McCormick’s Northeast distribution center, which will be the company’s largest distribution hub in the world. The massive 1,800,000 SF facility broke ground in 2020, and will allow the company to consolidate multiple warehouses and distribution facilities around the Baltimore region.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2018

Size: 230,000 SF

Cost: $125,000,000

Project Type: New Facility

Awards/Certifications: LEED Gold

Industrial + Manufacturing

At CMTA we understand the steps required to ensure process and manufacturing systems are successfully selected and installed. To accomplish this, we encourage input from the owner and work directly with equipment suppliers to design a system specific to the owner’s needs.

Our experience ranges from small component replacement projects, to complete plant replacements and new central plant designs. We have designed miles of steam, chilled water, and hot water distribution piping at a variety of project locations. Our depth of experience has allowed us to develop central energy and distribution designs that are consistently proven successful in service and have stood the test of time.

University of North Dakota, Steam Plant Grand Forks, North Dakota

Aldevron Manufacturing Lab & Office

Fargo, North Dakota

Aldevron is a company of forward-thinking, thought-leading, and innovative individuals working together to advance biological sciences worldwide. It’s the kind of company with a mission, vision, and values that resonate with us.

Our team was part of Aldevron’s first 70,000 square-foot office building design in Fargo. The current building, completed in 2018, is used for the production of DNA and protein products, and the expansion includes three new buildings. The first contains GMP manufacturing, warehouse, and

logistics space. The second building is an administration building, and the third is an industry-leading research and development center with technological operations and a training center. The new facilities will support the company’s growth and accommodate more than 1,000 employees.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2021

Size: 189,000 SF

Project Type: New Facility

Steam Plant & Distribution Piping

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Secured through a 40-year public-private partnership (P3), the new plant was entirely funded by the university’s existing budget, without costing taxpayers a dime. And now, the natural gas plant is expected to deliver more than a million dollars in savings.

– Chuck McGinnis, Performance Infrastructure™ Vice President of Sales, Johnson Controls

The new natural gas steam plant replaced the existing 100-year-old plant that had reached the end of its useful life. The aging facility was no longer operating efficiently — it even contained different sized boilers that required specialty parts due to discontinued production.

In addition to the new facility, CMTA completed roughly 8,000 linear feet of high-pressure steam distribution piping throughout the campus. The project included three new steam distribution vaults and the expansion of another 4 vaults. The design team completed Pipe-Flo modeling of steam and condensate systems to determine final distribution design as well as vault piping drawings. We also completed valve and insulation replacements in manholes around campus and installation of a natural ventilation system in a number of existing manholes. All piping was Perma-Pipe premanufactured piping system.

The project is the first non-housing university project funded through a public/private partnership (P3) between UND and Johnson Controls.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2021

Size: 24,000 SF (Facility)

Project Type: New Facility

Ecolab Advanced Design Center

Eagan, Minnesota

Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services, with a focus on making the world cleaner, safer, and healthier.

Ecolab opened its Advanced Design Center in 2021. The 22,000 SF state-of-the-art innovation center allows Ecolab’s global healthcare division to partner with medical device industry customers. With a focus on infection prevention solutions, Ecolab is

using the center to develop custom sterile barriers and equipment drapes for hospitals and surgery centers. The Advanced Design Center contains offices, collaboration spaces, a pre-fab pilot plant cleanroom, and a warehouse.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2021

Size: 22,000 SF

Project Type: Renovation

Center for Advanced Manufacturing

Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Georgetown, South Carolina

A new 30,000 SF facility in Georgetown is home to Advanced Welding, CNC Machine Tool, Robotics and the Mechatronics Programs for Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

The project effort consisted of the design and construction of a new Center for Advanced Manufacturing Building. With a flexible design for each department, any lab space could be easily converted to another department in the future.

The building includes computer classrooms, offices, welding lab/shop areas, machining and CNC lab/shop area, mechatronics/PLC lab, locker area, break room, a conference room, tool crib/storage rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, sprinkler riser room and an open main lobby area for students and businesses to congregate in the open labs.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2019

Size: 30,000 SF

Cost: $8,000,000

Project Type: New Facility

Building Science Leadership