MEP Engineering

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems play a critical role in how a building performs. Early MEP engineering can help project teams coordinate building systems with architectural design, operational requirements and long-term performance goals. Explore answers to common questions about Owner’s Project Requirements (OPRs), MEP coordination and determining the engineering needs of a building project.

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What are OPRs?

Owner’s Project Requirements refers to the established project requirements for a building project — the needs, demands, and expectations of a building owner. This list of requirements, often detailed in a document, serves as the standard that a design team seeks to meet upon completion of a building project. From the initial onset of design conversations, the architect must understand and establish the OPRs that the team will be working against throughout the project. OPRs are essential on many levels. From coordinating and synchronizing stakeholder expectations for a space to informing the strategy for the MEP systems in the building, properly and comprehensively understood Owner Project Requirements provide a framework for measuring and maintaining building performance standards.

Some essential data for an adequate OPR buildout…

  • The Owner’s Goals, Needs, and Expectations What has the owner of the building determined to be the biggest needs and ultimate purpose for the space? As the details and specific deliverables of the OPR are spelled out, the high-level goals for the space must be clearly articulated so that performance and design standards remain front and center for the team.
  • Building Usage and Planning What is the intended purpose of the space? If a multi-tenant commercial space, what kinds of businesses are being targeted as potential tenants? Are there industry-specific demands on the space (such as air flow, drainage, HVAC requirements, increased fire safety, etc.)?
  • Performance Goals What will be the measure of effective performance for the space? As costs for operation continually increase, building owners will measure operational performance in a range of ways and by a range of metrics. The more you know how success will be measured for your space, the more you’ll be able to keep OPRs front and center.
  • Budget The potential of merging demands and expectations with budgets and timelines is always one of the most significant challenges in design and architecture.When coming into a design discussion to determine the OPRs for a specific project, establishing a realistic budget is essential.As long as it’s realistically established on the front end, a project has a higher likelihood of meeting OPRs.
Think of the OPR as a project’s master plan — its north star that will guide each stage of design, engineering, construction, maintenance, and commissioning. It will be the standard used to measure success in both the immediate and long-term future. By establishing it at the onset of design, decision-making, engineering, and design strategy become easier to manage. If you’re planning a project but unsure of the next steps, reach out to the engineering team of CR-BPS.

How does MEP engineering impact architectural design?

When implemented correctly and integrated fully, the MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) engineering process has a major and meaningful impact on the overall strategy and development of an architectural design. The systems impacted by MEP engineering determine almost everything about how a building operates and functions. Because of this, a building must do more than look or feel the way the owner intends. It must also perform that way. MEP’s direct impact on design is seen on many levels, from a building’s layout and flow to themechanical infrastructure that impacts its immediate and long-term performance. Design AND Engineering It’s essential that building owners and project managers not put design before engineering butinstead put it within it. A building that’s well designed is one that’s well-engineered. That means that a well-designed space (architecturally speaking) has included and integrated the expertise of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing into the initial phases of a building’s architecture. In fact, the sooner this integration happens in design, the more likely it is that a space is set up to perform. From understanding a building’s purpose and uses to planning for future maintenance and upgrades, every decision should be made with the whole building in mind. Building with a Team When working with the right team of MEP engineers, your building’s design will actually be complemented and even enhanced by the right engineering decisions. If you’re unsure how to integrate Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing design into the design of your overall space, connect with a qualified engineer, like what you find at CR-BPS. With decades of integrated design experience that values the owner’s requirements alongside the many dynamics of building performance, our team works collaboratively with teams across all stages of design and pre-construction.

How do I determine my MEP needs for my project?

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems are the functional and performance elements of a space. Most simply, they are the engineering components that make a space livable and usable. MEP elements include HVAC, lighting and power, plumbing, as well as fire and various safety and security systems. In order for these elements to sufficiently perform for your space, there must be adequate planning and design in the pre-construction phase of work.
  • Defining the Project Scope Before you can determine the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing strategy for your space, you must first understand the project scope. The type of building you’re designing will determine almost everything about the MEP strategy you’ll need to implement. A residential space with less square footage and different compliance or code requirements, for instance, will plot a different strategic MEP map for your space. Everything from location, demands, climate-control needs, and long-term plans will impact the MEP engineering of the space.
  • Coordinate with Your Team When the right people are in the conversation, you can ensure that the right decisions will be made in your designs. By engaging your architect, engineering teams, local and municipal authorities, as well as industry experts for any specific commercial use of a property, you’re more capable of making the right strategic steps forward.
  • The Planning of Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Each decision and strategy for the engineering components of your space should be made based on both the current scenario and the future plans. Heating and cooling demands for a space will vary based on insulation, usage, and tenant preference. Electrical systems need to accommodate a wide range of demands and will often need to scale with a business. Plumbing is about more than running water or bathrooms. You must also consider fire safety systems, water drainage, and the many dynamics of industrial demands for various industries and business types.
As your team establishes the design direction of your project, there’s the need to also consider and design for the operational and functional demands of the space you’re creating. The best strategy for ensuring that the functional and operational elements of your space are integrated with the design requirements you have for it is to work with a qualified MEP engineering firm. The right MEP partner will understand the nuances and dynamics of both design and engineering. At CR-BPS, our MEP team works diligently to make sure your building is safe, functional, code-compliant, and efficient.

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