Fulton Companies has completed construction on a $10.5 million project to expand its headquarters in Pulaski N.Y. The facility now provides 10,000 square feet of new R&D space, 82,000 square feet of new manufacturing space, 20,000 square feet of additional office space, and 70 tons of additional lifting capacity.
Manufacturing space at the expanded facility is already fully functional, while office space transitions have begun and are expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2012. An additional $3.5 million is expected to be spent to complete project interior and equipment needs.
The expansion introduces a variety of improved features for heating and cooling, lighting, and customized energy recovery. The office heating system, for example, features a 12-zone in-floor radiant hydronic system. To reduce energy costs and improve efficiency, waste heat from the factory’s R&D facilities or manufacturing processes can be used.
To address cooling, the office has been divided into 43 zones that feature a chilled beam system mounted in the ceilings. Cooling towers are incorporated to manage overall energy balance. The system also has the potential to utilize gas absorption heat pumps and retention ponds as an energy source.
In addition, the expansion allowed Fulton’s affiliate, Synex Controls, to integrate a custom energy management system, which centralizes and manages heating, cooling, fresh air, humidification, and lighting.
A Synex web interface allows employees to interact on a personal level with the heating and cooling system to capture comfort preferences. System-wide real-time data is available online, and there are plans to display Synex control data for visitors in the lobby area.
For more information, visit http://www.fulton.com.
