By HFT Staff

For more than 100 years, Chicago’s Cook County Hospital was one of the nation’s leading healthcare institutions and considered one of the world’s great teaching facilities. The massive 3,000-bed facility and complex attracted patients from around the world for innovative treatments and advanced care. 

However, it was determined in the early 2000s that the aging facility and mechanical systems were not up to the demands of a modern healthcare facility, and it was closed when newer medical institutions opened nearby. 

The landmark building sat idle for nearly 20 years before Hyatt Hotels decided to renovate it into the Cook County Hyatt, incorporating two separate hotels – a Homewood Suites and a Hampton Inn. The two hotels now serve as temporary residences for medical staff, as well as guests visiting nearby patients and other city attractions. 

One key component of the renovation effort required to transform the building into hotels was the HVAC system required to ensure guests’ comfort during Chicago’s sweltering summers and frigid winters. And a key component of the new HVAC system was Design Envelope solutions from Armstrong Fluid Technology. Design Envelope variable-speed pumps ensure optimum performance while providing energy savings of 75 percent compared to traditional constant-speed pumps. 

“Due to shortage of floor space in the mechanical room, the innovative Design Envelope Vertical In-Line pumps with integrated intelligent controls made the retrofit project possible,” says Mike Moxon, vice president of engineering with Maddock. “The capability for sensorless variable-speed operation also meant that we didn’t have to worry about installing, wiring and calibrating remotely located sensors.”