Wednesday 2 December 2015

SETTY at the KIPP DC High School First Look

SETTY at the KIPP DC High School First Look- the opening reception for the new high school's teachers, benefactors, and stakeholders.  SETTY was proud to partner with KIPP and STUDIOS for this vibrant school in the heart of NoMa. 

Pictured below are Pankaj Hoogan, Conrad Dela Cruz, Scott Pegler (photo 1), KIPP DC HS Principal Jessica Cunningham (photo 2), and Dr. Chris McGahey and Ashton Allan, AIA at the SETTY booth (photo 3).

Photo 1 

 Photo 2

Photo 3

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Tiny Jewel Box not so tiny anymore


Longtime D.C. jewelry mainstay Tiny Jewel Box became even less tiny this week when it opened its expanded 8,000-square-foot boutique on Connecticut Avenue NW.

Setty’s services include design services for the expansion of Tiny Jewel Box.

Click here for more

Thursday 19 November 2015

Setty at DC Streetcar permanent Car Barn Training Center


Setty signboard at DC Streetcar !

Construction on the permanent Car Barn Training Center (CBTC II) began in spring 2015 and is expected to be commissioned in 2017. Construction on the first phase of the Car Barn Training Center (CBTC I), which comprises the yard and the temporary storage facility was completed in 2014. Setty is providing MEP/FP design services for DC Streetcar permanent Car Barn Training Center (CBTC II).

Thursday 5 November 2015

Mayor Bowser and Councilmember Orange Announce Bold FY16 CBE Spending Goal

Mayor MurieBowser and Councilmember Vincent Orange held a press conference to announce the Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) spending goal.  The Bowser Administration also unveiled a new website, cbeconnect.dc.gov, that will help CBEs better navigate the local government procurement process.

The FY16 expendable budget for District government agencies is $634 Million, of which at least 50 percent, or $317 Million, must be spent with CBEs.  This feasible, but bold, spending goal is the result of a top-to-bottom, data driven analysis of past practices and current agency budgets.  

In FY15, the Bowser Administration spent more than $250 million through contracts with small businesses, which exceeded the total amount spent in each of the past five years. The FY16 goal reflects the Mayor's commitment to build on the District's progress, and to increase its support for small businesses.

Mayor Bowser launched cbeconnect.dc.gov to both increase transparency in the goal-setting process and help CBEs navigate the procurement process.  The website offers a user-friendly platform to search for procurement opportunities across District government. The Bowser Administration will also release an 'Opportunity Guide' with an agency-by-agency overview of CBE opportunities. 

Monday 26 October 2015

Civic Building and Veterans' Plaza received the First Annual Design Excellence Award from Montgomery County Planning Department



The Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza has won the First Annual Design Excellence Award, presented by the Montgomery County Planning Department. As part of the Machado Silvetti team, Setty provided MEP/FP design services for the civic building. The project is recognized for its exceptional work in architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, and urban design that will represent Montgomery County’s high quality of design to the region, state, and nation.

The Award was presented at the “Celebrate Design” event on October 22 in the Silver Spring Civic Building.

Wednesday 14 October 2015

FCPS Saves $4.5 Million Through Energy Conservation; 146 Schools Earn Energy Star Certification


Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has realized $4.5 million in energy savings as a result of the Cenergistic energy conservation and management program, which began in February 2014. This effort began as one of many throughout FCPS to reduce operating costs and increase efficiency. The school district has also earned the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Certification for 146 school buildings, and has the highest number of Energy Star-certified buildings in the country. SETTY is proud to be a partner in this effort with our Commissioning and Design projects throughout the county.

Monday 5 October 2015

Setty Awarded Nationwide IDIQ Contract by USDA

SETTY awarded USDA Nationwide AE Indefinite Quantity Contact for A/E Services for Research and Laboratory Facilities. Congratulations team!

Under this contract Setty will provide energy-related studies, feasibility and conceptual studies, life cycle cost analyses, engineering design criteria development, design analyses, designs, construction drawings, specifications (including specifications for design-build), detailed cost estimates and analyses, construction management/administration, construction inspection and/or monitoring, design review, technical consultation, field surveys, engineering reports, and computer-aided drafting.

Monday 3 August 2015

The Upcoming SETTY Charity Bike Ride


Pre-ride: Julisan Wijaya, Pankaj Hoogan, Ritesh Ramkumar, Erwin Mate, and Rohit Setty at the midway point of their 30 mile ride from FFX office to the DC office and back. The crew was pre-riding the route to test it out for the upcoming SETTY charity bike ride.

Thursday 30 July 2015

12th Award for Dunbar Senior High School


Dunbar Senior High School was honored with its 12th award - U.S. Green Building Council's National Capital Region's Project of the Year: Schools Award at their annual "A Midsummer Night's Green" event. Dunbar Senior High School also earned the distinct People's Choice Award voted on by attendees at the annual event. For More

Tuesday 30 June 2015

In Memoriam: Timothy Woerner, P.E.


Our colleague and friend Tim Woerner passed away on June 24th. Tim will be missed greatly. He was a good engineer, humble, and a kind man. Over his 12 years with us, he was instrumental in helping our company and family. Thank you Tim. 

Our condolences to his wife Patricia and to his family. http://goo.gl/mL0NTo

Monday 1 June 2015

Employment Opportunity at Setty


Office Manager/ Human Resources Administrative Associate

Fairfax, VA

We are seeking an energetic Office Manager/Human Resources Administrative Associate with the ability to work on human resource and some minor accounting processes. Excellent benefits including paid vacation with additional sick leave, 401K plan, and paid medical. We are an equal employment opportunity employer and will consider all qualified candidates.
This will be a great opportunity in a fast growing office with five locations. In this position, you would: 
  • Manage the daily operations of the offices including office maintenance, professional appearance, supply ordering, and office-wide communications. 
  • Manage and update office database as well as financial, equipment, and personnel files
  • Answer primary incoming phone line and direct calls - Coordinate meeting and conference logistics
  • Make all necessary travel arrangements for staff
  • Assure that office common areas are clean and well-maintained; greet and assist visitors; provide support for meeting
  • Periodically filing accounting documents, maintaining a log of documents and maintaining calendar with deadlines
  • Together with immigration attorneys, coordinate US work visa application process for SETTY employees
  • Process internships applications and assist interns in finding housing and other basic services, as needed
  • Health Care Liaison 
  • Onboarding for new employees
  • Maintaining and updating HR files, handbooks, performance review processes

  SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES
* Very Personable
* Strong computer skills.
* Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
* Attention to accuracy.
* Communication skills.
* Ability to multi-task.
* Detail oriented.
* Problem Solver.


If interested, send resume and cover letter to hr@setty.com.

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Setty Engineer Featured in Industry Publication


Setty's own Scott Pegler, PE, LEED AP, was recently featured in one of the leading publications for building engineers.  In the April 2015 print edition of Consulting Specifying Engineer magazine, Mr. Pegler is interviewed as part of a distinguished MEP Roundtable.  The topic of discussion—Government building design.  Be sure to check out his comments in either the print version or on-line at Consulting-Specifying Engineer. 

Good work, Scott!

Sunday 3 May 2015

National Building Museum Gala

Congratulations to our colleagues at STUDIOS Architecture for their 2015 Honor Award from the National Building Museum. On May 27, the National Building Museum will present the 2015 Honor Award to The Rockefeller Foundation, STUDIOS Architecture, and Capital Bikeshare to celebrate their commitment to the ongoing vitality and adaptation of our cities. The Museum has selected the theme of Game Changers, recognizing the profound contributions by their honorees and their work in inspiring the public to rethink what it means to be a part of an enduring and vital cityscape.

Thursday 30 April 2015

Setty Partners with Habitat for Humanity


Engineering firm donates services for new affordable townhome project

Setty is proud to announce its involvement with a project to construct five new affordable homeownership townhomes located in the west end of the City of Alexandria, VA.  The Stevenson Avenue site,  purchased by Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia (HabitatNOVA) in April of 2014, is situated in close proximity (within a 1 mi radius) to the Capital Beltway/I-95, Landmark Mall and several shopping centers along Little River Turnpike and Van Dorn Street.

Design services for the five new 1,400 sf, 3 bedroom townhomes are being provided by Wiencek + Associates, Dewberry and Setty.  Setty is providing MEP/FP design engineering services for the homes,  which will be constructed to earn Earthcraft Gold certification.  Additionally, through a partnership with Grid Alternatives, the townhomes will include solar panels. The energy efficiency of the homes will lower the homeowner’s energy costs, helping maintain affordability while providing residents with a healthy living environment.
      
The townhomes will be sold at cost of construction to qualified families who earn 30%- 80% of the area median income (AMI). Families must have adequate income for a down payment and monthly mortgage payments; 30 yr, 0% mortgage. Homeowners are selected through an extensive application process designed to find partner families who will succeed in a HabitatNOVA home. The application process seeks to determine the applicant’s financial need and willingness to partner. Once selected, the partner families must complete 300-400 hours of “sweat equity” in the building of their home and other HabitatNOVA homes.

The City of Alexandria faces a severe shortage of affordable housing due to sharply increasing real estate costs and regional development pressures over the past decade. Since 2000, there have been dramatic declines in market affordable rental units and opportunities for affordable homeownership by low and moderate income individuals and families. The Stevenson Ave development will provide five homeownership opportunities for families to live in the City of Alexandria. This opportunity is made possible through the generous support of donors and volunteers.

For More:

Monday 9 March 2015

Setty Named One of DC Area's Top Minority-Owned Businesses

Fairfax, VA, March 9, 2015 – The Washington Business Journal has named Setty & Associates (www.setty.com) one of Metro DC's Top 25 Minority-Owned Businesses for 2014.  Ranked at #24, Fairfax-based Setty—a multi-disciplinary (MEP/FP) design engineering firm—earned $12.24 million in the past year.  Founded in 1984 by Indian immigrant Boggarm Setty, the company, which delivers high performing buildings for a diverse array of clients, remains family-owned and currently employs 60 in the metro area.  In addition to its Fairfax office, Setty has offices in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, New York City, and Mysore, India, and is a certified MBE (Minority-owned Business Enterprise) in Viriginia, Maryland, New York State, and New York City.

Contact
To learn more about Setty & Associates, please contact:

Christopher McGahey,
Marketing & Business Development Associate / Technical Writer
Christopher.McGahey@setty.com
703.691.2115

Thursday 19 February 2015

School Project Breaks LEED Record


The U.S. Green Building Council has just awarded DC's new Dunbar Senior High School—designed by a joint venture between Perkins Eastman Architects, Setty & SK&A. —an unprecedented 91 LEED credits, breaking the previous LEED for Schools record by 5 credits.  The largest portion of these earned credits came from the LEED category EAC1 (Optimization of Energy Performance), in which the new building's design earned an impressive 18 of 19 possible points, indicating that the School, opened in 2013, is projected to save from 46% to 48% in energy costs with respect to an ASHRAE-established baseline building performance rating.  These savings are being accomplished through an array of energy conservation measures, including a geothermal well field (DC's largest), PPA-acquired solar panels, radiant flooring, an advanced lighting system with dimmable ballasts, and a rainwater harvesting system.

Saturday 14 February 2015

Proving Emerging Chiller Technologies


SETTY, a leader in the field of high performing buildings, was recently chosen by the General Services Administration(GSA) to provide MEP design, controls integration, and commissioning services for an innovative 12-month comparison study of competing chiller technologies.  This effort is part of the GSA's Green Proving Ground (GPG) program, which is evaluating emerging building technologies in real-world settings and providing recommendations for their deployment across GSA's nationwide real estate portfolio.  The study site is the 5 story, 133-year-old Sidney Yates Building, located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

A joint effort between SETTY, Maryn Construction, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, this ongoing study is evaluating the technical performance and cost effectiveness of a variable-speed screw chiller compressor, one of only nine emerging technologies selected in 2014 for GPG evaluation.  The baseline for comparison is being provided by a magneticlevitation (Maglev) chiller compressor, a proven technology that was the subject of a 2013 GPG study.  Two chiller units—one variable-speed screw and one Maglev, both having identical capacity—are being installed side by side in the Yates building, and performance metrics for both units will be carefully monitored for the duration of the study.

Setty's engineers and commissioning experts are leveraging their expertise in high performing building design to ensure that the two competing chillers are installed in a manner that allows for a fair performance comparison and that efficiently serves the cooling needs of the  approximately 200,000 sf Yates building.  From field survey to design of new water pumps, variable frequency drives, a new advanced energy metering system, and a new central plant BAS, our engineers are customizing the installations to allow each chiller to operate at optimal efficiency. 

Once installation is complete, Oak Ridge will monitor and verify the study results.  Due to the variable-speed screw chiller compressor's ability to operate with high efficiency at partial cooling loads, the new technology is expected to outperform current ASHRAE efficiency standards by as much as 44%.  Other anticipated advantages include simplified operations and maintenance, and a short payback period—as low as 3 years according to manufacturer estimates.  The performance of the variable-speed screw chiller is expected to compare favorably with that of the Maglev chiller.  Study results are expected in 2016.

Tuesday 3 February 2015

The SETTY Survey Team at NIST


Under our NIST IDIQ, SETTY is developing a full blown design to fix the problems of the Toxic Gas Monitoring System in the Advance Measurement Laboratory at NIST. Pictured in the required lab protection gear, the SETTY survey team has been working on solutions to fix the monitoring system that has been riddled with problems.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Building a Case for Net Zero


Emblematic of Setty's commitment to being on the vanguard of environmentally conscious building practices are two new D.C. area projects involving Net Zero Energy (NZE) buildings—one that is in its final stages, and the other recently awarded. 

First, with Bowie Gridley Architects, Setty has been investigating the feasibility of using an innovative combined heat and power (CHP) plant to serve four D.C. government buildings located in the city's new Southeast Eco-District. CHP plants improve overall power plant efficiency by recovering waste heat from electric power production, thus making NZE more attainable.  Another central tenant of NZE building design—on-site generation of renewable energy—is achieved by using a biomass-powered fuel cell as the CHP's prime mover.  Setty's proposed CHP/fuel cell design not only realizes NZE, but is projected to save the District over $300,000 per year in utility costs. 

Second, Setty was recently awarded the MEP Design and Construction Administration for a NZE demonstration home in Prince George's County, Maryland.  With this Urban Green-led project, our goal is to combine renewables—a photovoltaic array and solar water heating—with intelligent lighting and HVAC controls, thereby showing that NZE is a real option for low-income suburban residents.

In both projects, Setty's energy modelers and engineers are leveraging their expertise in high performing building practices to both serve our clients and put state-of-the-art building technologies on the ground.

Monday 5 January 2015

SETTY-SETTCON turn-key Mechanical and Controls Design and Installation


Another SETTY-SETTCON turn-key Mechanical and Controls Design and Installation completed.  An annual  energy savings of 35% is anticipated.  Energy usage will be monitored and analyzed post-construction, through SETTY’s Fairfax-based remote Energy Analytics Center.