Cator, Ruma & Associates was selected to provide the Mechanical/Electrical design, and Construction Administration for the Remodel of the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) Ben Parker Student Center. 

The project was broken out into 3 phases. Phase 1 involved remodel of the first and second floor in the west wing of the building. The second floor included a kitchen, retail, dining, concessions, and a Starbucks. The first floor was primarily the CSM Bookstore, small conference rooms, and mechanical space. Phase 2 was in the east wing of the building, and on the first floor only. The remodel consisted primarily of administration offices and working spaces.  Phase 3 was minor remodel of existing office spaces in the North/East wing of the building on the first and second floors. 

The equipment used on this project included the following:

• 38,000 CFM semi-custom AHU serving the west wing kitchen space and bookstore
• 16,500 CFM semi-custom AHU serving the east wing administrative spaces
• 140 Air Cooled Water Chiller
• (2) shell and tube Maxi-therm steam to heating water heat exchangers

The existing fire alarm system was reconfigured and upgraded as required to accommodate the renovation work and meet the latest Mines’ mass notification standards. The Notifier system was retrofitted with an analog addressable system that included the replacement of initiating devices, notification appliances, and interface modules as well as the replacement or addition of internal components within the control panels. The existing voice system was upgraded to digital. Existing devices such as door holders, dampers, fans, etc., are controlled by system via control modules.