Story

There are many words that could be used to describe the Ray and Joan Kroc Salvation Army Community Center but the most appropriate would be generosity. Without the generous support of the Kroc foundation and West Michigan donors, the vision of building a state of the art, faith based community center on Division Avenue would not have been possible. Quality Air engineers designed the Kroc Center’s HVAC systems to high standards of comfort, energy efficiency and air quality to allow submission of the facility for LEED gold certification. When looking at the lush green soccer and baseball fields you would never know that beneath them lies a massive geothermal heat exchanger consisting of 150 closed loop wells; each 240’ deep serving more than 50 water-source heat pump conditioning units located throughout the building. Numerous hydronic pumps with extensive piping systems serve radiant floor and snow-melt heating systems, pool environmental conditioning equipment and the water-source units. Efficient, roof-mounted energy- recovery ventilators provide the considerable amount of code required fresh air for occupants. The impressive aquatic center is conditioned by a Dry-o-tron dehumidification unit and incorporates custom, bold-colored fabric duct to enhance the pool area’s visual effect. The facility’s HVAC systems are monitored and controlled through an extensive Automated Logic Corporation building automation system. This system optimizes energy performance of the geothermal system and provides remote monitoring capability while greatly simplifying management of the building’s HVAC systems. Quality Air is grateful for having had the opportunity to design and construct this facility which has already positively impacted the lives of hundreds of those within the surrounding communities.