1415 Washington Apartments

Project overview

Sage Engineering Associates, LLP provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design services for the new construction of a 295,000 square foot, 231-apartment multi-story residential building with structured parking located at 1415 Washington Avenue in Albany, New York.

The building is served by an all-electric HVAC system consisting of distributed, apartment-based packaged heat pump units providing space heating and cooling to individual dwelling units with independent temperature control. Centralized mechanical ventilation and exhaust systems serve bathrooms, kitchens, corridors, common areas, and the parking garage, with vertically stacked distribution coordinated throughout the building. Garage ventilation systems were designed to meet code-required air change rates and carbon monoxide control requirements. The building does not include a natural gas service.

Plumbing systems include a centralized domestic water service with backflow prevention and a variable-speed domestic water booster pump system to maintain pressure throughout the building. Electric domestic hot water heaters serve residential units and amenity spaces. Sanitary, vent, and storm piping systems are organized around centralized vertical risers, with extensive below-slab piping serving residential floors, structured parking, elevator pits with sump pumps, and roof drainage systems. The electrical design includes two separate 120/208-volt, three-phase electrical services, each rated at 3,000 amperes, providing a total building capacity appropriate for a large, high-density residential facility with all-electric HVAC systems. Electrical distribution includes main service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, and branch circuitry serving dwelling units, common areas, mechanical equipment, domestic water systems, garage systems, elevators, and life-safety loads.

The completed development provides students with amenity-rich and comfortable housing, balancing student life requirements with efficient and reliable all-electric HVAC and plumbing systems.