Lehman Brothers
399 Park Avenue
New York, NY

Lehman Brothers (LB) leased approximately 360,000 square feet (sf) including a new Sub-level cafeteria. The fast track negotiation and subsequent leasing of this “as-is” space was brought about by the loss of LB’s World Financial Center facilities during the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Among the project challenges were:

• The age of the facility/infrastructure taken in an as-is condition.
• Staged build-out of infrastructure/fit-out while working around occupied spaces.
• Providing upgraded telecommunications, power and HVAC infrastructure to support the extraordinary requirements of LB.

Electrical Systems
An existing 225 kVA UPS system was removed and replaced with a new 500 kVA UPS system configured as a single module, external bypass with dual battery strings. PDU’s located within the UPS room provide the 120/208V distribution to the Data Center panels and risers supporting other Technical Rooms throughout the premises. PDU distribution is in a 2N configuration.

A 2N, UPS riser provides distribution at 480V to the traders that is subsequently stepped down to 120/208V. Since the new UPS system was not readily available to meet aggressive deadlines, a temporary 80 kVA UPS system was connected into the new riser infrastructure to allow the critical components within LAN Rooms and the backup Data Room to be brought on line prior to the move-in date.

Mechanical Systems
RDA designed the HVAC systems serving the premises inclusive of the full service kitchen/cafeteria. The design included the removal and replacement of all of the existing overhead air distribution systems serving the interior zones. The perimeter induction units were reused after a complete refurbishment. The overhead air system was designed as a pinch-down VAV system for the upper floors, and constant-volume for the lower floors, in keeping with the base building’s design concept. Due to idiosyncrasies of the air system operation as a result of constant tenant construction churn and the existence of VAV hybrid systems on various floors, the air distribution system was outfitted with a static pressure/airflow control system. The system maintains a constant static pressure (for VAV floors) and a constant airflow value (for constant-volume floors), regardless of the operation of the other building tenants.

Extensive supplementary AC systems to offset LB’s load density were required. Chilled water, obtained from the building, is utilized as the cooling medium, feeding multiple ceiling-concealed fan-coil units. A new DDC based BMS system was designed to monitor, control and alarm all functions of LB’s HVAC and critical electrical systems. The BMS system was designed with two-way communication to LB’s headquarters site at 745 Seventh Avenue. All setpoints and operating parameters can be monitored and adjusted from either the 399 or 745 site. The main 399 Park Avenue Data Center and UPS Room were designed with 2N redundancy in the AC systems for reliability.