Dallas Transitional Living Center
Additional Info
Award Winner : Ramtech Building Systems, Inc.
Architectural Excellence : This new building provides 296 beds segregating male and female inmates by roughly a 5:1 ratio. A monitored communal assembly space splits the 2 housing wings and provides a gathering area for recreation and dining. Adjacent to this assembly space is a commercial kitchen, admin offices, classrooms and inmate processing areas. Finishes were selected with security and durability in mind. Interior wall covering is a textured and paint finish over impact resistant gypsum with an 18 gauge stainless steel wainscot. Flooring is polished concrete with slip resistant epoxy coatings in wet areas. Ceilings are painted gypsum in inmate areas as well as the kitchen area with acoustical lay-in tile in the admin and training areas. The exterior is a parapet wall design combining ribbed steel panels with a masonry wainscot. To provide articulation and massing, the center assembly area projects both up and out. A raised steel canopy protects and draws attention to the building’s main entrance.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : Ramtech's single-source vertically integrated design-build approach allowed the client to recognize a significant amount of cost savings by having us provide all of the architectural and engineering (except civil) design. Working closely with the client in the initial programming phase, Ramtech was able to value engineer the project in order to meet the aesthetic and durability requirements by using materials like stainless steel sheeting for the wainscoting in the hallways and sealed concrete floors throughout the majority of the facility. This provided attractive and durable finishes while saving significant sums over other types of wall materials and floor coverings. A significant amount cost savings was also recognized by minimizing the amount of soft costs associated with supervision and per diems through actions like accelerating the installation process by installing the modules on finished concrete sections while the remaining concrete foundation was still being prepared.
Design Firm Name : Ramtech Building Systems
Engineering Firm Name : Bannister Engineering, Inc.
Green Building Description : While no sustainable rating system was applied, the Owner wished to incorporate as many sustainable features their budget would allow. The building is designed for compliance with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. Insulation values incorporated into the structure were R-19 for the walls and R-30 rigid for the roof. A white TPO single ply membrane roofing material was used to aid in heat reflectivity. HVAC consists of zoned high EER self-contained 480V roof top heat pumps. HVAC controls and zoning are arranges to allow shut-downs and setbacks of certain areas within the building envelope. All HVAC units were provided with energy recovery ventilators and larger units are provided with fresh-air economizers. Domestic hot water is provided by commercial gas-fired water heaters plumbed in series for heavy cyclical demands associated with showering. 277V T-8 fluorescent lighting is also utilized throughout.
Installer Firm Name : Ramtech Building Systems
Occupied Date : 12/18/2015
Owner Firm Name : Corrections Corporation of America
Production Start Date : 5/15/2015
Project Location City : Dallas County
Project Location State Name : TX
Technical Innovation : Using Ramtech’s Accelerated Building System, the floor-less modular building was constructed directly atop a 5”, 4,000 psi concrete slab foundation with 22’ deep drilled, belled piers. Due to the Institutional and Assembly occupancies, the building incorporated a 2-hour fire separation wall allowing the use of Type Vb combustible, sprinkled construction. The building utilizes steel clear-span trusses throughout allowing unlimited future reconfiguration of the space. Since this is a correctional facility, the security and safety of the occupants and staff is paramount. To facilitate this, 36 security cameras were placed throughout the facility as well as door and window alarms with monitoring and status boards in the control center as well as the director’s office. Data, communication, fire alarm, fire sprinkler, and HVAC control feeds were also routed to the central control center.
Total Square Feet : 31948
Category : Permanent: Institutional or Assembly: any square footage