New Student Apartments

IMEG provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering design services for Swarthmore College’s new student housing complex, a three-building living/learning community on the southeastern side of the campus. The Palmer, Pittenger, and Roberts Apartments (PPRA) offer 23 student units with 128 beds, and common areas for informal student social interactions.

With energy efficiency in mind, IMEG installed a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) unit with energy recovery wheels and two-pipe valance units for heating and cooling. Other sustainable designs include a 40-well geothermal system, rainwater reclamation for non-potable uses, photovoltaic panels powering the electrical system, and solar thermal plate-and-frame collectors to heat domestic water. Built to LEED Platinum standards, the project was the first building designed in compliance with the College’s Environmental Sustainability Framework.