INTEGRATED DESIGN
Nowadays, it is common practice to design a building with all of its systems simultaneously, versus the conventional method of sequentially designing a building and its systems. This is a much better method of design because it allows the different systems in a building to work together in order to meet the purpose of the building as a whole.
HVAC & STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
The selections of the HVAC system majorly effected the selections if the structural system of FMC tower. Firstly, and most importantly, the type and location of any HVAC unit will affect the structural system because the unit needs to be supported by something. The area where this is evident is in the mechanical spaces on levels 27 and 28. Most of the major HVAC equipment is located in this area, so it requires a great many trusses and supports to hold up the heavy dead loads in this area. If these pieces of equipment were located in the basement, the mechanical space would require less steel and concrete to support the level, but it is essential for the mechanical space to be located in the middle of the building so that it can provide uniform service to the entire building.
HVAC & ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
The systems that need to be integrated and designed most closely together are the HVAC and Electrical systems. The HVAC equipment in FMC Tower draw a major portion of the power service to the building because they are almost always running. For this reason the design of a building's HVAC system is directly related to the design of its electrical system. The location of the HVAC units is not as crucial of a parameter in terms of its integration with the electrical system as it is for the integration with the structural system because for a new building electrical service can be provided virtually anywhere. The type of HVAC equipment is the parameter that directly affects the design of the electrical system because bigger pieces of equipment typically require more power.