4. NSA
Southgate Community Schools
Architects Engineers
Planners Bond Program
NSA was the architectural
engineering firm selected by
Southgate Community Schools
for their bond program to
upgrade their facilities. NSA
provided all architectural and
engineering design services.
This bond program included
additions and renovations to
the school district’s
elementary, middle, and high
schools. Additions consisted of
multi-purpose rooms, science
wings, media centers, etc.
5. NSA Southgate Community Schools
Architects Engineers
Planners Davidson Middle School – Media Center Addition
This photograph is of the
Davidson middle school
classroom and media center
addition.
Structural systems utilized
were 8 inch load bearing
concrete masonry walls and bar
joist roof framing. The bar joist
roof framing had to support
multiple roof mounted
mechanical units. K series
joists were utilized in these
locations due to the uncertain
locations of the mechanical
units.
7. NSA Southgate Community Schools
Architects Engineers
Planners Elementary School – Multipurpose Room Addition
This photograph illustrated one
of several additions to multiple
elementary schools in the
school district.
Typically the structural systems
used were load bearing
concrete masonry walls with
steel bar joist roof framing.
The roof joists utilized constant
shear joists in areas where roof
top mechanical equipment
were going to be supported.
8. NSA Ypsilanti School District
Architects Engineers
Planners Elementary School – Multipurpose Room Addition
Another elementary school
addition.
10. NSA Ypsilanti School District
Architects Engineers
Planners Elementary School – Multipurpose Room Addition
NSA was selected to provide all
architectural and engineering
design services for the city of
Ypsilanti’s school bond
program.
Additions and renovations
were completed at multiple
elementary, middle school, and
high school locations.
Additions consisted of multi-
purpose rooms, media centers,
music rooms, etc.
15. Michigan State University
BEI Associates, Inc.
Architects Engineers
Anthony Hall Agriculture Program Addition & Renovation
This project was a $43 million
dollar addition and renovation
of Michigan State University’s
Anthony Hall. The program
included this 200,000 square
foot addition and major
renovations to Anthony Hall
and the adjacent Diary Plant.
The three story addition
utilized a reinforced concrete
structural system with one way
pan joists as the floor system.
The addition contained
freezers and coolers to store
freshly slaughtered meat and
poultry products, an
auditorium, and offices for
graduate students in the animal
agriculture program.
Additionally, a second floor
addition was built on to the
existing dairy plant.
18. NSA
Trotwood Distribution Center
Architects Engineers
Planners Dayton, Ohio
This project was a 380,000
square foot warehouse located
in Trotwood, Ohio.
NSA teamed up with design
build partner Oliver Hatcher
Construction for this project.
NSA provided full architectural
and structural engineering
design services with Oliver
Hatcher performing the
construction.
Structural systems used were
tilt-up load bearing precast
concrete wall panels with steel
joist and joist girders for the
roof framing. Steel hollow
structural sections (tubes) were
used for the columns.
The roofing system was an
EPDM membrane with gravel
ballast.
19. NSA
Ford Motor Company
Architects Engineers
Planners Allen Park Test Laboratory
This project was a renovation
of an existing building to
upgrade the ventilation
systems for a dynamometer Existing Building Beyond
laboratory.
NSA was selected by
Diclemente Siegel Design, the Walk In
prime mechanical Monorail Airhouse
consultant, to provide
architectural and structural
engineering services for the
project.
Steel Grillage
The project consisted of
building multiple steel grillages
on the roof to support new
walk-in air houses that
provided ventilation to the
dynamometer test cells located
below in the existing building.
20. NSA GEMA – Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance
Architects Engineers Dundee, Michigan
Planners
Photographer Unknown
This project was a 950,000
square foot, greenfield
site, engine manufacturing
facility for DaimlerChrysler in
Dundee, Michigan. The project
was a joint venture between
Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and
Hyundai to build 4-cyliner
engines for their products.
The project included close to a
million square feet in
manufacturing space, a
separate fire pump house with
water storage tank, energy
center, and utility trestle to the
main plant.
This project also included an
administration and employee
relations building attached to
the plant. NSA provided all
architectural and engineering
design services.
24. NSA
Architects Engineers Fox Run - Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
Fox Run is a premier senior Pedestrian Bridge No. 2
retirement living community
in Novi, Michigan.
NSA was selected by
Erickson Retirement
Communities to be the
campus architect engineer.
The campus is divided up
into three neighborhoods
with a community building
and multiple residential
buildings in each
neighborhood. All of the
buildings are connected
together with either
enclosed links, bridges, or
tunnels. A central boiler
room is located in the
community buildings and Bridge No. 1
the mechanical and
electrical utilities are routed
to the residential building
through the various links and General Site Plan
bridges.
25. NSA
Fox Run Village
Architects Engineers
Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
This photograph shows a
typical six story steel framed
residential building on this
senior retirement campus.
The floor framing system
consisted of composite steel
bar joists and joist girders with
rolled wide flange column
shapes. The open joist system
was used due to the low floor
to floor heights and allowed
distribution of the MEP
systems to various locations
within the floor plans.
The lowest level floor plan had
walk out apartment units on
one side and maintenance
areas on the other side of the
corridor. This required the use
of a concrete retaining wall on
two sides of the building
footprint.
26.
27. NSA
Fox Run Village
Architects Engineers
Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
This photograph shows how
the grade steps down one story
at the corner of this building.
The building is six stories on the
low side of grade and five
stories on the high side of
grade.
Note the bay windows on the
right hand side of the
photograph.
28. NSA
Architects Engineers Fox Run Campus – Community Building No. 1
Planners Photographer - Unknown
Front elevation view of
community building No. 1
showing the Porte Cochere
over the drive way.
The community building is a
two story steel framed
structure with composite joists
and joist girders for the floor
system. The roof framing
consists of steel beams and
girders supporting pre-
engineered wood trusses at
two feet on center.
A portion of the second floor
framing was designed for a 75
pound per square foot process
hanging load to carry piping
and equipment in the boiler
room below this area.
29. Residential Building Five Story Residential Building Community
RB-2.2 Link RB-2.1 – Six Stories Building-CB-2.0
Pedestrian
Bridge
30.
31. NSA
Fox Run – Community Building No.1
Architects Engineers
Photographer Unknown
Planners
This is the main entrance to
Community Building No. 1 in
Neighborhood No. 1.
The boiler room and main
mechanical room for all of the
five residential buildings in
neighborhood number one is in
this building. The MEP utilities
feed out to the various
residential building through a
series of enclosed links,
bridges, or tunnels.
This two story building is
framed with rolled structural
steel sections and composite
steel joist members. Open web
composite joists were selected
to provide easy routing of
mechanical and electrical
utilities throughout the
building.
32. NSA Fox Run – Senior Retirement Living Community
Architects Engineers
Planners Pedestrian Bridge No. 1
This photo shows the first
pedestrian bridge on the Fox
Run Campus.
The bridge connects the
second floor of community
building No. 1 to the second
floor of residential building No.
2.
The mechanical and electrical
utilities from the boiler room in
community building No. 1 are
routed across this bridge and
feed the rest of the residential
buildings in neighborhood No.
1.
Precast concrete, brick clad
piers, support a precast
concrete double tee that spans
between piers and cantilevers
ten feet to the buildings.
33. NSA Fox Run – Senior Retirement Living Community
Architects Engineers
Planners Pedestrian Bridge No. 2
All of the buildings on a campus
are linked together by enclosed
links, bridges, or tunnels.
This photograph shows the
bridge from Community
Building No. 2 to Residential
Building No. 2.2.
This bridge spans
approximately 135 feet
between buildings and is
supported on three precast
concrete piers.
Due to the bridge location
crossing over an existing
wetland, the piers are
supported on 5 foot diameter
drilled piers which extend 25
feet into the earth to reach
suitable bearing soils.
34. NSA Fox Run – Senior Retirement Living Community
Architects Engineers
Planners Pedestrian Bridge No. 2
The photo shows the
pedestrian bridge under
construction.
The middle pier is located in a
wetland area. The foundation
system used were drilled piers
five feet in diameter and
approximately twenty five feet
deep.
The precast concrete, brick clad
piers, support two precast
concrete double tee’s that span
fifty five feet each and then
cantilever another ten feet to
the buildings.
The MEP utilities are routed
from the boiler room in the
community building across the
bridge into the residential
buildings. Utilities are
concealed below the floor
system of the bridge.
35. NSA Fox Run – Senior Retirement Living Community
Architects Engineers
Planners Pedestrian Bridge No. 2
This photo shows the interior
of the pedestrian bridge
looking down it’s length.
The hollow structural section
(tube) frames are spaced
approximately 10 feet apart
and support a wood glulam
beam on each side. The glulam
beams support transverse
tongue and groove wood
planking for the roof structure.
The floor framing consists of
light gauge metal joists
spanning between the sides of
the bridge. The joists support a
plywood floor system. There is
an approximately 18 inch void
space below the floor and
above the double tee for
mechanical and electrical
utilities to run from one
building to the next.
36. NSA
Architects Engineers Fox Run - Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
This photograph highlights the
hostess station as you enter the
main dinning room of
community building No. 2.
37. NSA
Architects Engineers Fox Run - Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
This photograph shows the
main dinning room at
Community Building No. 2.
38. NSA Fox Run - Senior Retirement Living Community
Architects Engineers
Planners Community Building No. 2 – Dinning Room
Photograph of dinning area in
Community Building No. 2.
39. NSA
Architects Engineers Fox Run - Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
This photograph highlights the
expo kitchen in the main
dinning room of community
building No. 2.
The expo kitchen is utilized to
give various cooking
demonstrations as part of the
various activities for the senior
residents.
40. NSA
Architects Engineers Fox Run - Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
This photograph shows the
bistro area of community
building No. 2.
The bistro is located adjacent
to the living room and provides
light snacks for the residents.
41. NSA
Architects Engineers Fox Run - Senior Retirement Living Community
Planners
View of the gas fired fireplace
in the living room of
community building No. 2.
42. NSA Shire of Shelby, Shelby Township, Michigan
Architects Engineers
Planners Proposed Senior Retirement Living Community
This project was a three story
wood framed senior retirement
community in Shelby
Township, Michigan.
The three story residential
wings are connected together
with a two story commons area
that provides function common
to all residents.
44. NSA City of Southgate, Michigan
Architects Engineers
Planners 28th. District Courthouse
This project was a court house
addition and police station
renovation for the City of
Southgate, Michigan.
The structural systems used
were 12 inch load bearing
concrete masonry walls and
rolled wide flange shapes for
the second floor. The second
floor framing was designed for
a storage live load of 250
pounds per square foot for
records retention.
The roof framing used steel bar
joists and metal deck.
Non-structural glass block was
used to provide some exterior
light to penetrate the buildings
interiors.
45.
46. NSA City of Southgate, Michigan
Architects Engineers
Planners Southgate Community Ice Arena
This project was a pre-
engineered building addition to
house a new ice rink adjacent
to the existing skating facility.
The main entrance shown here
was framed with light rolled
wide flange structural steel
members. This entrance/lobby
area includes a pro shop and
snack shop for the patrons.
The main rigid frames span
approximately 135 feet over the
rink area. The lateral thrust at
the base of the rigid frame
columns required a tie beam
below grade. The tie beam
required 2-#9 bars to carry the
tension force from the lateral
thrust of the column bases.
47.
48. NSA
City of Novi, Michigan
Architects Engineers
Planners Fire Station No. 4
This project was a new fire station
for the city of Novi, Michigan.
The building is divided into three
separate functional areas.
Approximately one third of the
building is divided into living
quarters and central dispatch, one
third contains three drive through
apparatus bays, and one third
houses training facilities including
conference rooms with a separate
entrance.
Structural systems utilized on the
project were 8 inch load bearing
concrete masonry walls and light
bar joist roof framing members.
Screen walls were used on the
roof to hide roof top mechanical
units.
A separate structure was also
built for fire training exercise’s.
49. NSA
City of Novi, Michigan
Architects Engineers
Planners Fire Station No. 4
This project was a new fire station
for the city of Novi, Michigan.
The building is divided into three
separate functional areas.
Approximately one third of the
building is divided into living
quarters and central dispatch, one
third contains three drive through
apparatus bays, and one third
houses training facilities including
conference rooms with a separate
entrance.
Structural systems utilized on the
project were 8 inch load bearing
concrete masonry walls and light
bar joist roof framing members.
Screen walls were used on the
roof to hide roof top mechanical
units.
A separate structure was also
built for fire training exercise’s.
50. NSA
City of Novi, Michigan
Architects Engineers
Planners Fire Station No. 4 – Training Tower
This photograph shows the
three story training tower
which was part of the new fire
station.
The structural system is an all
reinforced concrete frame of
columns, beams, and one way
slabs. Concrete beams
cantilever out at the second
and third floor levels to pick up
an exterior steel stair system.
The tower contains a precast
concrete section of pipe for
confined space entry training
and a steel framed “chop roof”
clad with plywood for fire
ventilation training.
52. NSA
Architects Engineers Wireless Phone Company Switching Center Addition
Planners
This project was a 28,000
square foot addition to a major
wireless telecommunications
company.
This addition was designed to
be structurally independent of
the existing facility so as to not
induce additional loads into the
existing building. The client
required the roof framing to be
designed for 75 pounds per
square foot over the switching
center rooms and 125 pounds
per square foot over the
emergency battery backup
rooms. The facility was
designed for seismic design
category C and as such, all MEP
utilities had to be seismically
braced.
53. NSA
Wireless Phone Company
Architects Engineers
Planners Switching Center Addition
This photograph shows the
nine foot cantilevered roof of
the new addition. The new roof
was several feet higher than
the existing roof and therefore
a portion of the existing bar
joist roof framing had to be
reinforced for snow drift
loading.
54. NSA
Wireless Phone Company
Architects Engineers
Planners Switching Center Addition
This photograph shows the
new columns 9 feet outboard
of the existing building. This
was necessary in order to get
spread footing foundations in
without disturbing the existing
foundation system. The roof
framing then cantilevers back
the 9 feet to the existing
building.
The blocked out wall
penetrations are for getting the
HVAC duct system into the new
addition. All the penetrations
were reinforced above the
opening with a steel lintel.
56. Smith, Hinchman & Evans U.S. Army Hospital
Grylls Associates, Inc.
Fort Carson, Colorado
This project was a $93 million
dollar replacement hospital for
the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers located in Fort
Carson, Colorado.
The project consisted of a five
story patient tower, a central
two story commons area, and a
two story administrative
building. This project also
included renovations to the
existing powerhouse building.
57.
58.
59.
60. Smith, Hinchman & Evans U.S. Army Hospital – Fort Carson, CO
Grylls Associates, Inc.
This photograph shows the two
story commons area that links
the patient tower to the
administrative areas of the
hospital.
61. Smith, Hinchman & Evans U.S. Army Hospital – Fort Carson, CO
Grylls Associates, Inc.
Two story commons area.
62. Smith Hinchman & Evans U.S. Army Hospital – Fort Carson, CO
Grylls Associates, Inc.
Second floor of the two story
commons area. View looking
into the medical library.
63. Smith, Hinchman, & Detroit Medical Center
Grylls Associates, Inc. Harper Professional Office Building
This project was a ten story
medical office building
adjacent to the Detroit Medical
Center’s Harper Hospital.
The project was originally
planned for eight stories with
two future floors. Mid way
through the construction, the
owner decided to incorporate
the two future floors including
a mechanical penthouse over a
portion of the roof.
Structural systems utilized
were a structural steel frame
with composite beams and
girders for the floor framing.
Exterior cladding consists of
brick veneer over concrete
masonry unit back up
construction.
65. Smith, Hinchman, & Detroit Medical Center
Grylls Associates, Inc. Harper Professional Office Building
Skylight over the main
entrance to the office building.
Hollow structural sections
(tubes) were used to support
the skylight rafters.
66. Smith Hinchman & Detroit Medical Center
Grylls Associates, Inc. Harper Professional Office Building
This photograph shows the
pedestrian bridge at the second
floor level.
The office building is on the left
and the main hospital is on the
right.
The span is approximately 35
feet. A 27 inch deep girder was
used to span between
buildings. The depth was
chosen in order to keep
deflections to a minimum on
the spandrel beams which carry
the brick veneer and concrete
masonry back up.
68. Albert Kahn Henry Ford Hospital
Associates, Inc. West Grand Boulevard Entrance
This project was a main entrance
renovation to Henry Ford
Hospital’s main campus in mid
town Detroit.
A circular drive was added to help
the efficiency of patient drop off
and a skylight was built to aid in
the identity of the hospital’s main
entrance.
Plate girders were used to
support the skylight which
required tight deflection
allowances and a horizontal truss
system was used in the two
triangular canopies to resolve the
horizontal thrust from the
skylight rafters.
Granite clad bollards define the
circular drive below the canopies
and also collect exhaust fumes
from the vehicles. The concrete
pavement in the drive ways
contains an embedded system of
piping for snow melting.
69. Albert Kahn Henry Ford Hospital
Associates, Inc. West Grand Boulevard Entrance
This photograph highlights the
circular drive from the street
and goes below the canopies
and skylight.
The grade changes nine feet
from the street to the patient
drop off area below the
skylight.
The design of the spandrel
beams around the perimeter of
the canopies and skylight were
controlled by deflection
considerations as they
supported limestone veneer
panels.
70. Albert Kahn Henry Ford Hospital
Associates, Inc. West Grand Boulevard Entrance
The skylight spans
approximately 65 feet between
the piers.
71. Albert Kahn Henry Ford Hospital
Associates, Inc. 36 Bed Critical Care Unit Addition
This project was the addition of
a 36 bed critical care unit
addition on top of an existing
five story hospital building.
The roof of the existing
building had been prepared for
use as a future floor. Existing
columns were stubbed up
above the roof line in
preparation for the future
columns. 48 foot span bays
required the use of 3 foot deep
trusses in order to be able to
route MEP utilities.
The column shown in the photo
to the left of the stair tower did
not extend to grade due to the
drive through below. A plate
girder was used at the roof of
the addition and a hanger was
dropped down to pick up the
floor load at this location.
72. Albert Kahn Henry Ford Hospital
Associate, Inc. 36 Bed Critical Care Unit Addition
74. NSA Summit Pointe Office Building
Architects Engineers
Planners Class A Office Building – Novi, Michigan
This project was a four story
Class A office building located
in Novi, Michigan.
The structural systems used
were rolled wide flange shapes
with a composite beam and
slab floor system. The roof
framing consisted of steel bar
joists and wide flange girders.
There is one story of below
grade parking under the entire
building foot print.
The lobby contains a gas fired
fireplace. The lobby is
contained in a two story high
open atrium.
78. NSA Ciena Healthcare Management
Architects Engineers
Planners Skilled Nursing Care Center
This project was a two story
skilled nursing care center for
Ciena Healthcare
Management.
The structural systems utilized
were half high load bearing
concrete masonry exterior
walls with light gauge metal
load bearing stud interior
corridor walls. The floor
system was a 3 ½ inch concrete
slab on metal deck on open
web steel bar joist framing
members.
81. Rust International Hammermill Papers Group
Corporation Selma, Alabama
This photograph is of a grass
roots paper machine building
for the Hamermill Papers
Group in Selma, Alabama.
Note that all of the structural
steel is galvanized due to the
corrosive environment of a
paper mill. All of the truss
members were WT shapes in
order to reduce the number of
locations for dust and
corrosives to accumulate.
Also note the main house crane
at about the mid height of the
photograph. The main function
of this crane is to change out
the granite rolls of the paper
machine.
The concrete piers in the
foreground will support the
paper machine.
82. Rust International Hammermill Paper Group
Corporation Selma, Alabama
Bridge Crane
This photograph is looking
down on the main operating
floor.
Crane Girder
The concrete columns in the
foreground will support the
paper machine.
Note the main house bridge
crane at the top of the
photograph.
Also note the double plane
bracing on the columns in the
background. This was due to
the depth of the column shapes
used. These columns were W27
shapes and stepped down to
W18 shapes above the crane
girder level.
83. Rust International Hammermill Papers Group
Corporation Selma, Alabama
This photograph is a view
looking down the length of the
paper mill.
The hole in the operation floor
on the lower level is for the
paper machine to fit into. The
blue columns will support the
paper machine.
Note the crane girders at about
the mid height of the
photograph.
There are several levels of
mezzanines on the left side of
the photograph to support
equipment for the paper
making process.
Note that all of the structural
steel is galvanized due to the
corrosive nature of a paper mill.
84. Rust International Hammermill Paper Group
Corporation Selma, Alabama
This photograph shows an end
plate moment connection on a
36 inch deep girder.
W36
End Plate
85. Rust International Hammermill Paper Group
Corporation Selma, Alabama
This photograph shows a
moment base plate on a large
crane column. Note the
leveling screws on the sides of
the base plate.
87. The Fernald Environmental Management Project
Ralph M. Parsons Overall Site View – Pre Remediation
Company Photographer Unknown
88. Fluor Fernald Environmental Management Project
Fernald Demolition of Production Buildings – Operable Unit 3
Photographer Unknown
The previous photograph is of
the Fernald Environmental
Management Project. This was
a former uranium enrichment
facility for the U.S. Department
of Energy.
The Fernald site outside of
Cincinnati, Ohio was put on the
National Priority List of major
superfund sites in need of
environmental remediation.
I worked for The Ralph M.
Parsons Company for just over
one year at this site. I prepared
feasibility studies, technical
reports, and structural designs
for hazardous waste
remediation projects.
This photograph shows the
explosive demolition of one of
the former uranium production
buildings on site.
89. Fluor Fernald Environmental Management Project
Fernald Overall Site View – Post Remediation
Photographer Unknown
90. Robert S. Downey, PE, LEED® AP, NCEES
22180 Cape Cod Way
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
r-downey@att.net
Mobile: 248.687.4711
