Lillibridge Healthcare Services
Bradenton, FL

Lakewood Medical Office Building

Advancing Decarbonization, Equipment Replacement and Automation Upgrades

The Lakewood Medical Office Building is a three-story, 61,650-square-foot facility located within the Lakewood Ranch Medical Complex.

Project Scope and Upgrades

Key elements of the HVAC system upgrade include:

• Boiler Replacement: The existing natural gas boiler was replaced with a new electric boiler to support decarbonization.
• Cooling Towers: Both cooling towers were replaced, with new variable-frequency drives (VFDs) added to enhance energy efficiency and controllability.
• Basin Sweeper System: A new basin sweeper system improved water quality in the cooling towers and reduced maintenance requirements.
• Pumping Systems: Existing pumps were replaced and equipped with VFDs to optimize energy performance and responsiveness.

Controls Integration and Documentation

Building Automation System (BAS) upgrades are planned for both the central HVAC equipment and terminal water-source heat pump units. While central plant as-built drawings were available, the Owner lacked as-builts for the tenant buildouts. Pearson Engineering surveyed the facility and developed accurate as-built documentation to:

• Enable effective BAS integration across all heat pumps
• Assist in identifying and prioritizing aging equipment for replacement

Pearson also supported the client in implementing a new BAS platform that integrated all water-source heat pumps and central systems under a unified interface, providing consistent control, enhanced diagnostics, and connectivity to Lillibridge’s enterprise management system.

Strategic Planning for Heat Pump Replacements

Based on the field survey and equipment assessment, Pearson developed a prioritized list of heat pump replacements. Standardized RFP templates were also created for use in future procurement, allowing Lillibridge to implement a phased replacement strategy efficiently and consistently.