Plumbing – RMH Group

Wells Concrete’s new Brighton facility consolidates two existing Denver locations into a single, comprehensive manufacturing operation to enhance production capability and flexibility for the Denver market. The 122,673-square-foot precast facility sits on 64.5 acres and features year-round indoor production capabilities for architectural precast and outdoor structural forms, with lifting capacity upgraded from 15-ton to 25-ton cranes to accommodate larger products and higher volumes.

The manufacturing facility incorporates long-line prestressing forms and an expanded inventory of movable forms to meet diverse project demands. The versatile production facility enables identical product manufacturing with consistent quality while maintaining flexibility to meet demanding schedules and minimize project risk. The specialized facility includes a 4,500-square-foot mold shop, steel shop, lunchroom, office, maintenance bays, boiler and air-compressor room, production area, beam bed/storage area, tool room, QC lab, chemical storage area, and washroom.

As the project’s mechanical and electrical engineer, RMH provided mechanical and electrical design and construction-phase services for the new concrete pre-stress plant. Services included chilled water, steam, compressed air, power, and natural gas systems to support the specialized manufacturing operations.

RMH modernized the mechanical and electrical systems at the historic St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, Colorado. Initially built in 1907, with additional buildings constructed during the Depression era, the seminary required thoughtful upgrades to improve energy performance and occupant comfort while preserving its architectural heritage.

RMH designed the upgraded lighting systems to meet current life safety and energy codes, enhance illumination, and simplify maintenance. Our team selected energy-efficient lamps and custom historic-style fixtures to maintain the campus’s character.

To install a large air handling unit in the chapel tower, RMH designed a lightweight, all-aluminum vertical unit. The unit was assembled and field-erected on site by lowering components through the bell tower to avoid exceeding structural load limits.

Because new ductwork would compromise interior aesthetics, RMH engineered a hydronic heating and cooling system. This approach minimized wall and ceiling penetrations while delivering high energy transfer efficiency.

In the library, which houses rare and historic books, the team was required to maintain strict temperature and humidity levels using evaporative cooling with chilled water backup. Leveraging Denver’s dry climate, the refectory kitchen and chapel use evaporative cooling. At night, the chapel is flushed with cool outdoor air to reduce daytime cooling loads.

Our design improved lighting efficiency by specifying LED and fluorescent fixtures, installing occupancy sensors, and using photocells to reduce energy use during daylight hours.

RMH provided mechanical, electrical, and lighting design services for the expansive Philip S. Miller Park and Miller Activity Complex.. Nestled among the area’s scenic geological formations, this 320-acre park delivers a wide range of indoor and outdoor recreational experiences for residents and visitors.

RMH designed systems to support the park’s diverse amenities, including a synthetic turf athletic field, zip line courses, and a 2,500-seat amphitheater for concerts and live events. The 2,850-square-foot Millhouse offers flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings, family gatherings, and special events. Visitors enjoy picnic pavilions, an outdoor fireplace, and water features such as two ponds fed by a recirculating creek and a splash pad for children.

Inside the Miller Activity Complex, RMH engineered systems for full-sized and half-sized turf fields, a 3,000-square-foot play area, a 5,000-square-foot trampoline zone, batting cages, and an 18-hole golf simulator. The indoor aquatics center features a lap pool, a leisure pool with a winding water slide, and a vortex whirlpool that simulates rushing currents.

Our team delivered energy-efficient, code-compliant solutions that enhance comfort, safety, and functionality across the entire site.

The Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center is a 27,000-square-foot multi-use facility that blends sustainability, education, and hospitality. More than a rest stop, the center houses interpretive museum displays, the Wyoming Office of Tourism, and warehouse space for the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

RMH worked closely with the owner and design team to deliver a highly energy-efficient building powered by renewable resources. Photovoltaic panels installed on the roof and walls generate 27 kW of electricity, while five on-site wind turbines contribute additional zero-emissions power, offsetting over half of the building’s electrical demand.

To maximize HVAC efficiency, RMH designed a ground source heat pump system with more than 11 miles of geo-exchange coils buried beneath the 26.6-acre site. This system leverages the earth’s stable temperature to provide reliable heating and cooling year-round.

Our team engineered thermal displacement ventilation in public and office areas to improve indoor air quality and occupant comfort. This low-energy system introduces air at floor level, allowing it to rise naturally and exit through ceiling vents. Daylight harvesting strategies, supported by the building’s long axis and narrow footprint, reduce reliance on electric lighting. High-efficiency fixtures and controls supplement natural light when needed.

Photo credit: AndersonMasonDale Architects and Sampson Construction

RMH provided mechanical, electrical, and lighting design services for a high-performance cabinetry manufacturing facility featuring 80,750 square feet of production space, 97,000 square feet of warehouse, and 22,300 square feet of administrative offices.

To safely manage large volumes of combustible wood dust generated during production, RMH engineered a 1,800-linear-foot dust collection system with 50,000 CFM capacity. The system captures heavy wood particles at 47 high-velocity pickup points and delivers them to an exterior baghouse. During the winter, the system reclaims heat by returning filtered air to the building.

To mitigate explosion risks, multiple infrared spark detection and suppression devices within the ductwork are integrated into the design. At the baghouse, RMH designed a pressure-sensitive detection and chemical suppression system to enhance safety and compliance.
Our team also designed a 2,350-square-foot, Class I, Division 1 paint vault equipped with a hazardous exhaust system, specialized grounding, and dedicated power and lighting systems to support safe and efficient operations.

RMH provided mechanical and electrical engineering services for the LEED Gold-certified CAB Barracks Complex at Fort Carson, Colorado—a $94.9 million design-build project supporting the 13th Combat Aviation Brigade. From the outset, the team prioritized energy efficiency, livability, and cost-effective delivery to achieve net-zero energy performance.

Spanning 370,156 square feet, the complex includes three H-shaped, four-story buildings with apartment-style units for 994 soldiers. The design integrates advanced sustainable systems to reduce energy consumption and enhance occupant comfort.

Key energy-efficient features include:

Radiant heating and cooling with active chilled beams
Heat recovery chiller and 5,000-gallon thermal storage tank
Dedicated outdoor air systems with heat recovery ventilation
Solar thermal panels that meet 30% of domestic hot water demand
Gravity thin-film shower drain heat exchangers
400 kW ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays offsetting 25% of annual energy use
Vacancy and occupancy sensors for lighting control
Automated window sensors and LED lighting throughout

RMH also engineered the adjacent Central Boiler and Chiller Facility (CBCF), which supports the barracks and future development on the Butts Field Plateau. The CBCF includes six condensing boilers, three 400-ton chillers, and over 81,000 feet of hot and chilled water distribution piping.

This project set a new benchmark for sustainable military housing and supports Fort Carson’s transformation into a net-zero energy installation.

The expanded Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Francis Medical Center offers an exceptional level of care for infants born before 32 weeks of gestation, those weighing less than 3.3 pounds, or critically ill babies who require breathing assistance. The expanded NICU includes several enhancements:

Increased capacity from 30 to 46 beds
Two couplet rooms, allowing mothers and their babies to stay together while receiving expert, round-the-clock care. At the time, the St. Francis Medical Center’s NICU was the only one in Colorado and only the fourth in the nation to feature couplet rooms.
Additional space for caring for multiples, such as twins and triplets
Advanced room lighting designed to support and stimulate infants’ circadian rhythms
A family sleeping area with privacy partitions and fully private restrooms
An outdoor patio and wellness garden
A NICU family lounge for families of patients to connect with others in similar situations
A dedicated breast milk storage room
A family pre-discharge room to help parents prepare for returning home

The NICU expansion was the first phase of a multi-part project comprising 168,000 square feet and costing $102 million. This project also included a new emergency department, operating rooms, antepartum rooms, and space for future growth. RMH is serving as the project’s mechanical and electrical engineer, as well as the lighting designer.

Breckenridge Brewery, at the time, Colorado’s fifth-largest craft brewer, unveiled a new $35-million brewery campus in response to growing demand and community engagement. Located in Littleton, the 79,150-square-foot, three-building complex blends rustic farmhouse aesthetics with modern brewing innovation and sustainable design. The campus includes:

Brewhouse Building: Featuring brewing and malt handling areas, a hops cooler, boiler plant, offices, conference room, and a tasting room.
Production Building: Home to fermentation, bottling, barrel aging, canning, kegging, dry goods storage, and a quality control lab.
Restaurant Building: A full-service restaurant with indoor seating, a lounge, a kitchen, and a gift shop.

Designed for scalability, the facility starts with a brewing capacity of 70,000 barrels annually, with potential to reach 300,000 barrels.
Sustainability was central to the design. Energy-efficient evaporative cooling supports process areas and the kitchen. Natural ventilation in the Brewhouse enhances indoor air quality. Destratification fans improve seasonal comfort, while 95%-efficient condensing boilers provide heating. A water reuse system captures and filters wastewater for landscape irrigation.

BYU-Idaho is Idaho’s largest private University, sitting on a 430-acre campus with a district heating loop providing space heating for 40 buildings. RMH served as mechanical, electrical, and controls engineer for this project to add cogeneration capabilities to the Rexburg campus heating plant. The University replaced its coal-fired boiler plant with a new, multi-leveled heating plant containing a combined heat and power (CHP) system using natural gas. The project began with a conceptual study/economic analysis, which investigated the economic viability of adding cogeneration capabilities.

After completing the conceptual study and economic analysis, RMH designed the installation of a nominal 5.7MWe natural gas turbine with a 50,000 pph HRSG, which has a calculated simple payback of eight years. RMH’s design for the gas turbine featured a fully enclosed evaporative cooling system to increase the turbine output, as well as a turbine enclosure heat reuse system.

To enhance minimally invasive surgeries for patients, Penrose Hospital constructed a new interventional hybrid operating room on the second floor. This facility features advanced medical imaging devices that allow surgeons to visualize and access smaller areas of the body, making procedures less traumatic than traditional surgical methods. As the mechanical and electrical engineer on the project, RMH designed the HVAC, plumbing, normal and emergency power, and lighting systems to support the new operating room, control room, and various supporting devices, including new diagnostic equipment, medical equipment booms, and surgical systems integration equipment.

The Avondale Aquatic Center is a modern, energy-efficient facility designed for comfort, safety, and community engagement. It features locker rooms, showers, restrooms, staff offices, a nurse station, a lifeguard office, and a food truck/snack area.

Mechanical systems include split system heat pumps and evaporative cooling with natural gas heating. Ventilation and exhaust systems support indoor air quality in high-fume areas. Plumbing uses lead-free materials, low-flow fixtures, and efficient water heating. Fire protection meets NFPA 13 standards.

RMH upgraded the electrical system to include an 800A service, installed LED lighting with smart controls, and set up infrastructure for solar and EV charging. In addition, the design enhances security with access control, surveillance cameras, and fire alarms. RMH designed site lighting to minimize light pollution and created durable, comfortable interior lighting.

This facility reflects a commitment to sustainability, functionality, and user experience.

RMH Group provided MEP engineering services for renovating and expanding the University of Colorado at Boulder’s recreation center. The project involved updating the 215,000-square-foot facility and adding 93,000 square feet of new space. The enhanced recreation center now offers expanded weight and cardio areas, a new ice rink with stadium seating and LED lighting, a three-story rock-climbing gym with a bouldering wall, an outdoor aquatics facility, an indoor turf gym, four lighted rooftop tennis courts, a new entrance and lobby, and renovated pools, gyms, and locker rooms.

Focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability goals, the project incorporates innovative heating and cooling systems that significantly reduce energy consumption. Features such as a heat recovery loop, which transfers excess heat to areas like the swimming pools and domestic hot water system, along with evaporative cooling, thermal displacement ventilation, radiant slab heating, and daylight harvesting, all contribute to the building’s energy profile. This recreation center earned LEED Platinum certification upon completion.

The St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, underwent an expansive project to cater to a 50% increase in patient volume since 2008, aiming to meet the growing community’s needs by expanding its capacity and enhancing care delivery.

The project included the construction of a 250,410-square-foot acute care facility, which features an emergency department, operating rooms, and an upgraded Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It also provides additional space for future growth. Key features of the expansion are a 30,000-square-foot parking area, a 34,000-square-foot Emergency Department with adaptable space, two operating theaters, a 22-bay post-anesthesia care unit, and 12,500 square feet for future operating rooms on Level 1. Level 2 has reserved space for surgical expansion, while Level 3 saw a 31,000-square-foot NICU expansion and renovations. Level 4 includes interstitial space for mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and Levels 5 and 6 will accommodate 64 MedSurg beds. RMH also provided the design to update the central utility plant to support the expansion, including a new chiller, boiler, and cooling tower.

The project utilized an Integrated Project Delivery method, completing 56 days early and 2% under budget. RMH introduced innovations such as tunable LED white light technology in the NICU to support infant circadian rhythms, enhancing care quality. Additionally, sustainability and efficiency were emphasized through daylight harvesting and high-efficiency lighting, balancing energy savings with maintaining safe care environments.

Originally a World War II munitions plant, Building 48 has been transformed into a LEED Gold-certified and SITES Silver-certified office for the Department of the Interior’s Interior Business Center.

The project involved converting a 1940s-era warehouse into a modern, energy-efficient workspace. RMH designed advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that facilitated the building’s net-zero energy profile. A key feature was installing a Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) system, which included perimeter single-zone units and additional units for interior zones and ventilation. This system capitalizes on Colorado’s dry climate through direct evaporative cooling, achieving a 75% reduction in energy consumption in shoulder seasons.

The electrical design focused on complete building electrification, incorporating three 240kW electric boilers that work with the WSHP. RMH kept the switchgear capacity below 4000A, creatively repurposing an old transformer for EV charging stations. A 200kW solar array on the roof and site solar at the Denver Federal Center supplied 100% renewable energy.