Commercial + Industrial Design
Project Portfolio
About CMTA
CMTA was founded in 1968 and is recognized as a national leader in high performance, sustainable design within the engineering industry. Our firm has leveraged our expertise in high performance, energy-efficient design into a nationwide practice that includes consulting engineering, performance contracting and zero energy design, technology solutions, and commissioning services.
CMTA prides itself on its data-driven, performance-based design process. Performance-based design uses benchmarking of our projects’ real-world energy usage as a challenge to our engineers to continuously improve energy performance. CMTA’s first signature performance-based design project was Richardsville Elementary School, the nation’s first operational Zero Energy school. Since then, our Zero Energy projects have led our firm into the national spotlight.
Because we walk the talk, we are true partners vested in sharing our knowledge with our clients. Our corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky and our Lexington, Kentucky offices are both zero energy buildings with perfect ENERGY STAR scores. And our CMTA Energy Solutions corporate office in Louisville is the first in the U.S. to operate as Zero Energy and achieve WELL Gold certification. CMTA strives to create strong relationships with building owners and managers while also focusing on the health and comfort of the people who live, work, and play in spaces we design.
CMTA Headquarters Campus Louisville, Kentucky
Building Science Leadership
— It’s our approach to every project.
From new construction to remodels, Building Science Leadership allows us to apply our vast expertise to deliver unprecedented results. It gives us the ability to deliver exceptional value to all of our partners.
First 30
This is a collaborative, immersive process that goes beyond standard systems analyses. We strive to be true partners invested in the success and wellbeing of the occupants of the buildings with a holistic design approach.
Data-Driven Design
Collaborate, innovate, create, and evaluate are the foundational concepts of our performance-based design philosophy. Our success is measured using real data, collected over time and proven in realworld applications.
Design Innovation
We invent products, fill gaps in the industry and are transforming the market with innovative solutions.
Occupant Health and Wellness
We deliver the best value that extends beyond cost to improve human health while exceeding energy savings expectations.
National Energy Goals
We work to achieve sustainable energy independence and are a leader in the development of Zero Energy building designs.
Research
We continuously measure and verify energy usage, investigate and test new technologies, and survey occupants to determine performance outcomes.
Lubber Run Community Center
CMTA Energy Solutions
Corporate Office
Louisville, Kentucky
Occupant Health + Wellness
CMTA’s buildings are moving beyond energy efficiency and sustainability to lead the industry’s focus on improving occupant health. Our team has a vast understanding of the building performance metrics and design strategies that improve the built environment for occupant comfort and wellness. This knowledge allows us to be successful in incorporating strategies that improve the health and wellbeing of the occupant while still maintaining budget and energy efficiency goals.
Our continuous drive for improvement fuels our research into Indoor air quality, lighting, and comfort as markers for occupant wellness. This allows us to incorporate proven strategies into every project we complete. We focus on delivering the
best value for the building owner and the occupants, which goes beyond costs, and improves human health while maintaining budget and energy-efficiency goals.
Walking the Talk
We take great pride in being thought leaders, paving the way for others to follow. We accept this challenge with enthusiasm and responsibility. CMTA is a firm that has built its reputation on research and datadriven design.
We designed our own corporate office to achieve WELL Gold and operate Zero Energy. In 2020, the CMTA Energy Solutions Corporate Office became the first WELL Gold Certified, Zero Energy Building in the country.
We spend about 85% of our lives in buildings, and it is essential that architects and engineers understand how the built environment affects the health and wellness of its occupants.
Performance Contracting
Most performance contracting firms focus on individual energy conservation measures. CMTA takes the same holistic approach to performance contracting as we do to our design. We benchmark a building’s existing energy consumption and compare it to our database of real energy performance. This comparison allows us to fully understand the building’s potential. Based on this understanding, we target a new energy usage rate and design strategies to meet the goal.
The energy performance guarantee differentiates CMTA from all our competition. In this industry, it is standard to use an energy model as the basis of the guarantee. CMTA’s approach sets us apart because we guarantee the energy savings based on the actual utility meter readings.
CMTA reviews guarantee options with each client in order to provide a project guarantee and measurement and verification plan that is beneficial for the client. For buildings with deep retrofits, we always utilize a full meter guarantee which expresses the guarantee as a simple math problem. The meter is read at the beginning of the year and again at the end of the year. The difference shows if the guarantee was met or not.
Every project that CMTA has completed to date has not only met the guarantee using this model, but exceeded it in every case.
Commercial Spaces
When designing systems for office buildings, we place emphasis on the balance between comfort, sustainability, and budget. The cyclical nature of office building design trends has encouraged us to design adaptable mechanical and electrical systems. As design consultants, we offer solutions to challenges, such as providing flexibility to accommodate future tenant requirements.
The properties of light — intensity, direction, and color temperature — provide an opportunity to create an atmosphere reflective of company culture and vision while maintaining visual comfort. We collaborate with the design team to create a high-quality lighting system that is unique, functional, and balanced at the intersection of economics, human needs, and architecture. Our team of Lighting Certified Designers provide beautiful, modern, and sustainable lighting options that adapt to each space’s need.
CMTA frequently contributes to technical publications, including the ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) for achieving Zero Energy in small to medium office buildings. This publication was co-Authored by CMTA Vice President Tony Hans, and features six case studies on Zero Energy Ready facilities — three of the six facilities were designed by CMTA.
Microsoft, Vista Office Building Fargo, North Dakota
Mastercard Applied Predictive Technologies
Mastercard, Inc. | Arlington, Virginia
Analytics software company Applied Predictive Technologies, Inc. (APT) was acquired by Mastercard in 2015. Around that time, their headquarters space needed a new design to better support collaboration and flexible work styles.
APT used data to help design the office, and interactive displays are found throughout the space. The chaos and randomization of technology is organized into interconnected patterns and represented through custom design. The lobby focal point is a futuristic pixelated light fixture juxtaposed with rich wood and a living wall behind the reception
desk. This pixelated light element is repeated above the four-story staircase.
The MEP scope included lighting with all LED and modern lighting controls, power design, new VAVs for space comfort control, critical cooling utilizing chilled water base building system for server rooms, and plumbing design to support the build out of pantries, the mother’s room, and cafe.
Project at a Glance Completion: 2018
Size: 128,000 SF
Project Type: Renovation
SICK
Corporate Office Building & Parking Ramp
SICK Sensor Intelligence | Bloomington, Minnesota
The German-based company is a global manufacturer of sensor and safety solutions for industrial applications, and has been part of the Minnesota business community since the 1970s. The new campus is contracted in multiple phases, with phase II slated for completion in 2025.
Corporate Office
Phase II includes a 135,000 square-foot new building containing office, training, and laboratory spaces. The building will be connected to the existing building via skyway.
The new facility utilizes a Darcy Solutions geothermal system to provide full heating and cooling service to the building via distributed water-to-air heat pumps. Fresh air is served by dedicated outdoor air units with exhaust air energy recovery, and they utilize free energy from the geothermal system to pre-heat and pre-cool the outside air. The project is targeting savings of up to $5,000,000 through IRA incentives.
Parking Structure
In collaboration with the Bloomington Port Authority, a 7-story, 555-space parking structure is being constructed to the West of the new office. The parking ramp is designed as an open parking ramp leveraging natural ventilation. The ramp utilizes an inverter battery system for emergency power for lighting and elevator use, and has a data connection back to the main phase II building for BAS monitoring and security.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2025 Estimated
Size: 135,000 SF Office / 7-Story Garage
Project Type: New Facility
Renderings by Clow Berg, Inc.
Houston Endowment Headquarters
Houston Endowment | Houston, Texas
Houston Endowment is one of the largest private foundations in Texas. CMTA was the engineer of record for all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology services for the organization.
The goals for the project were focused on providing healthy operational space for its staff, accessible and inspiring meeting spaces, and flexible and innovative engagement facilities for convening and collaborating with its community partners.
A holistic approach to design, engineering, and operations was applied to achieve exceptionally low energy use and reduced emissions, following the guidelines of the 2030 NetZero Challenge.
To reduce energy use intensity and meet sustainability goals, a closed-loop geothermal wellfield was installed on-site to support heating and cooling for the new facility. An innovative radiant cooling concrete slab and raised floor air conditioning system are used to achieve thermal comfort for occupants. In addition, a photovoltaic system was designed to provide a renewable source of energy for the facility.
Project at a Glance Completion: 2022
Size: 40,000 SF
Cost: $20,000,000
Project Type: New Facility
Awards/Certifications: Zero Energy Targeted
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative Headquarters
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative | Williston, North Dakota
The Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) headquarters in Williston, North Dakota, had outgrown their original building and needed a new space to accommodate more occupants and specialized equipment and technology. Located amidst the center of the Western North Dakota oil boom territory, it was important for the MWEC HQ to remain in its existing location. Redeveloping the existing site and designing a new four-story building helped to meet the current needs of MWEC.
The project was designed to achieve a LEED Gold rating, and being an electrical utility company, providing innovative and efficient electrical systems was imperative. CMTA collaborated with the design team to create high-quality, unique, and functional light fixtures with sophisticated lighting control and sensor systems.
The HVAC system uses geothermal heating and cooling for the entire building. The integrated 6-pipe heat recovery chiller is the focal point of the HVAC system and includes multiple modules, each including numerous compressors for redundancy. In addition, the data center contains redundant independent water-to-air heat pumps allowing N-1 redundancy in the event of failure of either of the heat pumps.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2018
Size: 92,000 SF
Cost: $37,000,000
Project Type: New Facility
Awards/Certifications: LEED Gold
ASHRAE Technology Award 2023
Samsung Electronics Public Affairs Division HQ
Samsung Electronics Co. | Washington, D.C.
CMTA provided full MEP, network cabling, and audio/visual design solutions for the Samsung Electronics Public Affairs division HQ fit-out. The office is a center of innovation providing opportunities to engage, support and educate government customers, policymakers and technology leaders.
Virtual reality was leveraged to support the co-design of the space with the client and act as a change-management tool for Samsung staff. This interactive office serves as a new location for the tech giant’s product marketing and patents groups, as well as a hoteling space for its clients.
The design intent is to provide an immersive experience the minute a visitor steps off the elevator. This result is achieved through a 300 SF seamlessly connected Samsung direct view LED display covering the elevator lobby ceiling. Back painted glass walls also conceal AV displays and elevator controls. With the ability to display imagery and play unique video content, the highly reflective space allows for a true sensory experience.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2018
Size: 28,500 SF
Project Type: Tenant Fit-Out
McCormick Spice Global Headquarters
McCormick Spice, the global leader in spices and flavorings, contracted our team to help plan and execute a new 380,000 SF headquarters to consolidate over 1,000 staff members spread between four buildings into a single facility. McCormick’s goal for the project was to improve collaboration and communication across its departments and create a facility that represented the brand principles of sustainability, purity, innovation, and passion for flavor.
The building is designed to operate at 38 EUI. Solar domestic water heating and rough-ins for a future 915 KW solar photovoltaic parking canopy system will offset over 25% of the predicted annual energy use for the building. Our Consulting and Commissioning teams made the owner’s goals a reality.
In addition, CMTA provided MEP design services for McCormick’s Northeast distribution center, which will be the company’s largest distribution hub in the world. The massive 1,800,000 SF facility broke ground in 2020, and will allow the company to consolidate multiple warehouses and distribution facilities around the Baltimore region.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2018
Size: 230,000 SF
Cost: $125,000,000
Project Type: New Facility
Awards/Certifications: LEED Gold
Industrial + Manufacturing
At CMTA we understand the steps required to ensure process and manufacturing systems are successfully selected and installed. To accomplish this, we encourage input from the owner and work directly with equipment suppliers to design a system specific to the owner’s needs.
Our experience ranges from small component replacement projects, to complete plant replacements and new central plant designs. We have designed miles of steam, chilled water, and hot water distribution piping at a variety of project locations. Our depth of experience has allowed us to develop central energy and distribution designs that are consistently proven successful in service and have stood the test of time.
University of North Dakota, Steam Plant Grand Forks, North Dakota
Aldevron Manufacturing Lab & Office
Aldevron, LLC | Fargo, North Dakota
Aldevron is a company of forward-thinking, thought-leading, and innovative individuals working together to advance biological sciences worldwide. It’s the kind of company with a mission, vision, and values that resonate with us.
Our team was part of Aldevron’s first 70,000 square-foot office building design in Fargo. The current building, completed in 2018, is used for the production of DNA and protein products, and the expansion includes three new buildings. The first contains GMP manufacturing, warehouse, and
logistics space. The second building is an administration building, and the third is an industry-leading research and development center with technological operations and a training center. The new facilities will support the company’s growth and accommodate more than 1,000 employees.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2021
Size: 189,000 SF
Project Type: New Facility
Steam Plant & Distribution Piping
University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota
Secured through a 40-year public-private partnership (P3), the new plant was entirely funded by the university’s existing budget, without costing taxpayers a dime. And now, the natural gas plant is expected to deliver more than a million dollars in savings.
– Chuck McGinnis, Performance Infrastructure™ Vice President of Sales, Johnson Controls
The new natural gas steam plant replaced the existing 100-year-old plant that had reached the end of its useful life. The aging facility was no longer operating efficiently — it even contained different sized boilers that required specialty parts due to discontinued production.
In addition to the new facility, CMTA completed roughly 8,000 linear feet of high-pressure steam distribution piping throughout the campus. The project included three new steam distribution vaults and the expansion of another 4 vaults. The design team completed Pipe-Flo modeling of steam and condensate systems to determine final distribution design as well as vault piping drawings. We also completed valve and insulation replacements in manholes around campus and installation of a natural ventilation system in a number of existing manholes. All piping was Perma-Pipe premanufactured piping system.
The project is the first non-housing university project funded through a public/private partnership (P3) between UND and Johnson Controls.
Project at a Glance Completion: 2021
Size: 24,000 SF (Facility)
Project Type: New Facility
Ecolab Advanced Design Center
Ecolab, Inc. | Eagan, Minnesota
Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services, with a focus on making the the world cleaner, safer, and healthier.
Ecolab opened its Advanced Design Center in 2021. The 22,000 SF state-of-the-art innovation center allows Ecolab’s global healthcare division to partner with medical device industry customers. With a focus on infection prevention solutions, Ecolab is using the center to develop custom sterile barriers and equipment drapes for hospitals and surgery centers.
The Advanced Design Center contains offices, collaboration spaces, a pre-fab pilot plant cleanroom, and a warehouse.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2021
Size: 22,000 SF
Project Type: Renovation
Center for Advanced Manufacturing
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Georgetown, South Carolina
A new 30,000 SF facility in Georgetown is home to Advanced Welding, CNC Machine Tool, Robotics and the Mechatronics Programs for Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
The project effort consisted of the design and construction of a new Center for Advanced Manufacturing Building. With a flexible design for each department, any lab space could be easily converted to another department in the future.
The building includes computer classrooms, offices, welding lab/shop areas, machining and CNC lab/shop area, mechatronics/PLC lab, locker area, break room, a conference room, tool crib/storage rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, sprinkler riser room and an open main lobby area for students and businesses to congregate in the open labs.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2019
Size: 30,000 SF
Cost: $8,000,000
Project Type: New Facility
Joint Replacement Division Facility Conversion
Confidential Client | Weston, Florida
CMTA designed mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for the conversion of a single-story building into a 90,000 SF workspace and 61,500 SF industrial warehouse/ assembly space. The building serves as a Research & Development space for the Joint Replacement division of the medical technology company. The goal was to bring about 500 staff from two offices under one roof.
The workspace includes 25 private offices, 370 workstations, 12-15 huddle rooms, conference rooms, fabrication and research
lab space, and conference rooms. The industrial warehouse component houses a receiving inspection office, forklift charging, and foam packaging.
Project at a Glance
Completion: 2020
Size: 151,500 SF
Cost: $23,000,000
Project Type: Renovation
– LEED Certified
