The Gateway at Millbrae - Site 5B, Millbrae, CA

Image Credit: LPMD Architects

Category: Multi-Unit Residential

Square Footage: 329,500 sq ft

Services Provided: HVAC

Completion Date: 2019

Architect: LPMD Architects

Mechanical Contractor: Bay City Mechanical

The Gateway at Millbrae station is a 6 storied multi-unit residential building with a total of 320 residential units. The residential building also encompasses leasing office, community spaces and retail spaces.

Bay City Mechanical has procured Pragmatic Professional Engineers to perform Mechanical Design. The building has a prescient steel structure, hence the trusses in the building structure limit the flexibility in ductwork design and distribution. Fire rated ceilings also posed a huge challenge to design the HVAC ductwork with optimum number of fire smoke dampers.

The residential units are served by one to one splits and VRF systems. Wherever closet space was available, floor mounted VTAC (Vertical Terminal Air Conditioner) units have been used.

Due to the irregular layout of the corridor, mechanical ventilation was extremely challenging and was accomplished by using a combination of makeup air units, relief louvers and exhaust fans.

The project has been designed and coordinated in Revit.