The existing chiller in the lower mechanical room of Washington University McDonnell Hall was replaced, along with associated piping, pumps, and controls, as part of a comprehensive system upgrade. Work began in Fall 2023 to allow for the chiller to be taken offline and removed. To access the equipment and piping, the pre-cast concrete lid of the mechanical room—located beneath the south parking lot—was removed. All demolished materials and equipment, as well as new piping and mechanical components, were hoisted through this large opening.
Maintaining campus operations during construction was a key priority. Drive lanes for student shuttles and emergency vehicle access were kept open throughout the project. Weekly coordination meetings were held to ensure consistent communication with impacted stakeholders.
While the mechanical room structure was exposed, it was waterproofed prior to restoring the parking lot and drive lanes. All exterior work, including demolition, equipment removal, material placement, and structural restoration, was completed within a 3-month window to avoid disruptions from winter weather. Following the placement of major equipment, piping and mechanical installation continued through the winter. This allowed the system to be completed and commissioned in time to meet Spring 2024 cooling demands.
Murphy Company provided Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) services to support the project. The existing mechanical room was scanned and modeled in 3D, allowing for precise equipment placement and the off-site prefabrication of piping assemblies. These prefabricated sections were then delivered to the site, hoisted into place through the roof opening, and installed efficiently. This prefabrication strategy was critical to the project’s success, given the limited site access, the operational campus setting, and the accelerated construction timeline.
