The Dallas Metro Church project in Dallas, Texas involved the provision of comprehensive Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) design services by 3S MEP. The project required careful consideration of the functional, operational, and code-compliance needs of the facility.

For the mechanical design, 3S MEP performed a comprehensive heat load analysis to determine the heating and cooling requirements of the building. Based on these calculations, the team designed ventilation systems to provide adequate air exchange and maintain indoor air quality throughout the facility. HVAC ductwork layouts were developed to efficiently distribute conditioned air within the church auditorium, kids’ church, prayer chapel, and office areas. In addition, 3S MEP assisted in the selection of suitable rooftop units (RTUs), cassette units, and overhead HVLS fans (OHF) to meet the project’s performance and operational requirements. The mechanical design also incorporated compliance with IECC energy efficiency standards and IMC requirements, including provisions for natural ventilation in the prayer chapel area.

For the plumbing design, 3S MEP developed systems for domestic water, sanitary waste, venting, and grease waste. Detailed fixture unit and demand calculations were performed to determine hot and cold water requirements. The team designed pipe sizing and routing, and selected appropriate plumbing fixtures, pumps, and water heaters to support both code compliance and functionality. Special attention was given to high-demand spaces such as the kitchen to ensure proper hot water supply and grease waste management. The design also incorporated backflow prevention, pressure regulation, and energy-efficient plumbing solutions in accordance with applicable local and international plumbing codes. Plumbing layouts were closely coordinated with mechanical and electrical systems to deliver a fully integrated MEP design solution.

For the electrical design, 3S MEP provided lighting, power, and audiovisual (AV) system layouts that balanced functionality, flexibility, and energy efficiency in accordance with IECC 2021 and NEC 2023 requirements. Comprehensive electrical load calculations were performed to determine building demand and to assess the power needs for projectors, lighting, speakers, fire alarm control panel (FACP), controlled receptacles, and dedicated AV panelboards. Spare panel capacity was also incorporated to allow for future additions to auditorium lighting and AV systems.

The project included several design challenges. These included development of the AV system layout, lighting controls for the prayer chapel and garage areas with high ceilings and partially covered spaces, selection between a Main Switchboard (MSB) and Main Distribution Board (MDB) for the 1000A electrical service, and addressing insufficient capacity from the existing pole-mounted transformer. These challenges were resolved through detailed review of City of Dallas jurisdictional requirements, which supported the use of an MDB as the preferred configuration. In addition, a utility-provided pad-mounted transformer was recommended to satisfy the required electrical demand. Precise AV load calculations were also carried out to ensure safe, scalable electrical distribution design, and spare spaces were included in the panelboards to accommodate future expansion.

Overall, 3S MEP delivered a coordinated and code-compliant MEP design for the Dallas Metro Church project, supporting the facility’s present operational needs while allowing flexibility for future growth.