Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the City of Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh on the grand opening of the historic Hunt Armory. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the team!
#ifyoubuildittheywillcome #huntarmorypittsburgh #cjlengineering #thecjlteam
CJL welcomes Heather Grillo to our Pittsburgh Office as the Marketing and Media Manager. Heather is a graduate of Penn State University. She brings a diverse marketing background and will be a great addition to #thecjlteam. Congratulations Heather and welcome aboard!
#CJLEngineering
Reprinted from the The Tribune Democrat –
By
Matt Grohal, Windber Municipal Authority director, stands inside the historic ballroom at Windber Recreation Park. Aug. 5, 2020. By Todd Berkey
Windber’s economic development committee secured $1 million in state funds to turn the 110-year-old dance hall into a year-round destination by adding a commercial kitchen, heating and air conditioning to the space.
Committee member and Borough Manager Jim Furmanchik delivered the announcement to council members Tuesday, saying the funds are projected to cover the entire cost to stabilize and adapt the wood-frame ballroom.
“This is a real big deal,” he said. “People are drawn to venues like this – and I think this could have a huge impact on the community of Windber.”
The ballroom was built just outside the borough at Windber Recreation Park and has been a community gathering space since 1910, hosting dances, summer receptions and seasonal events when the weather is right. But while it’s open-air style is part of its charm, it has to be buttoned up for the winter when the weather turns cold.
Windber-area leaders have been eying renovations for more than a year.
Through the Windber Economic Development Committee, Johnstown-based CJL Engineering completed the $4,800 feasibility report on the venue over the summer, detailing ways to insulate and update the space without losing its unique, turn-of-the-century character.
“This could set up Windber for the next 100 years,” Councilman Joe Pallo said.
Updates needed
In a report released over the summer, CJL estimated the work needed to upgrade the ballroom would cost more than $800,000.
The firm’s engineers said the ballroom has held up well for its age, but desired structural updates will need to be paired with amenities aimed at making it an all-year draw.
That includes replacing the structure’s asphalt shingles and a list of updates to meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
The study also recommended updating the building’s three small restrooms – and noted renovations to the building would also mean that a designated parking area would be a must.
Electrical system updates would be needed to add the commercial kitchen, while the ballroom’s vintage light fixtures – metal chandeliers included – could be adapted for modern LED lights.
But work can’t start yet.
Goals to meet
Detailed within a congratulatory letter from Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget office, Windber officials have a detailed list of tasks to complete before the money would be released – including the completion of a formal business plan.
Borough council members took steps Tuesday to form a project committee to ensure that every necessary step is completed to the state’s satisfaction.
The borough will have to hire a firm with expertise in completing a business plan by June, Furmanchik said.
And that too will cost money, he added.
But Council President Mike Bryan noted the borough needs to do what it takes.
“We’d be squandering a huge opportunity if we said goodbye to that grant,” Bryan said.
Air Ionization Units
CJL Engineering (https://www.simcloud.com/~cjl/), a multi-disciplinary mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering consulting firm, recently installed three Air Ionization Units into the HVAC system at its Johnstown, PA location.
“As Consulting Engineers who design building systems, good air quality is always part of our mindset; the COVID-19 surge has brought it into sharper focus,” said Jim Vizzini, CJL Managing Partner.
“In the face of this pandemic, strategies to protect occupant health and reduce the spread of the disease have come to the forefront of building design. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is more important than ever, impacting the health, comfort, well-being and productivity of building occupants,” Vizzini said,
CJL has installed three needlepoint ion generators in its Johnstown office building. This ionization equipment is effective in reducing harmful pollutants and odors by introducing positive and negative ions in the system airflow.
The technology is proven to neutralize airborne particles and destroy bacteria and viruses at the cellular level without increasing ozone levels in the space. The small, duct-mounted units deploy ions into the air stream, exchanging electrons with atoms and molecules. This process neutralizes airborne particulate matter, aerosols, VOCs, and pathogens. Neutralized particles are trapped in the HVAC system’s filter, preventing further re-circulation throughout the building. The 60-plus employees in the Johnstown office will benefit not only from the reduced risk of airborne infection but also improved indoor air quality.
The air ionization units are not the only pathogen-fighting products installed in the Johnstown office. When CJL moved to its current location in 2008, renovations took place to the facility; a former car dealership which had been vacant for an extended period. During renovations, concentrated Ultraviolet Lighting was incorporated in the HVAC system. Recommended by ASHRAE and the CDC, ultraviolet (UV-C) lights have a proven track record of killing viruses, fungi, bacteria and pathogens on surfaces through a process called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. According to Vizzini, the air ionization units supplement the existing UV lights.
“The benefits of these units, combined with the low electricity draw and ease of retrofit installation, made this an easy decision for CJL Leadership,” Vizzini said. “We work with many existing and new clients on reducing air borne pathogens and have a team of Professional Engineers who have presented on this topic on various platforms.”