JQ Provides Structural Engineering Services for Lubbock Meals on Wheels
Date Posted: Jul 14, 2016
Location: Lubbock, Texas
JQ is providing structural engineering services for the expansion and renovation of the Lubbock Meals on Wheels (LMOW) facility, located at 2304 34th St. The project will occur in two phases with a 7,890 sf new addition to the east and west and then renovation of the existing 7,860 sf facility.
When the expansion and renovation are complete, the facility will double in size and consist of a state-of-the-art kitchen, expanded volunteer center, activity work spaces, and administrative offices. It will also include expanded food storage areas, additional parking and a covered area for volunteer driver meal pick-up. LMOW expects that the expansion will enable them to nearly double its capacity from 700 meals a day up to 1,500 meals per day and allow it to grow with the Lubbock community for another 10 to 15 years.
“We are very pleased to be on the project team and to know that we are helping LMOW continue to serve the needs of our community,” says JQ principal Natalie Harvill, PE, LEED AP.
From a structural perspective, the complexity of integrating new components to the existing building presented some engineering challenges since there were not any existing drawings. For example, in order to raise a portion of the roof on the existing metal building to provide more interior light through clerestory windows, JQ had to analyze the metal building system to determine lateral load paths and account for those in the renovation.
From a building perspective, the phasing presents challenges as LMOW continues using the existing kitchen facility for as long as possible to minimize down time and the expense of contracting out meals. Says Harvill, “Fortunately, we have extensive experience working in occupied spaces during renovation projects.”
The $3.5 million construction project broke ground in May 2016 and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2017. General contractor for the project is Teinert Commercial Building Services, Inc. Architectural services are provided by Chapman Harvey Architects, Inc.