Sustainable MEPF Engineering for Laulima Affordable Housing - Kapolei, Hawaii

Image Credit: ARETÉ Collective – Denton House

Category: Multi-Family Residential

Overall Area: 800,000+ ft²

Services Provided: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection (MEPF) Engineering

Completion Date: 2026

Owner: Kamaka Responsible Housing

Architect: ARETÉ Collective – Denton House

Project Description

Laulima LA-3 is a transformative affordable housing development located in Kapolei, HI. Comprising 750 residential units across eight multi-story structures and a central clubhouse, the project addresses Oahu’s pressing need for sustainable, economically viable housing.

Pragmatic Professional Engineers (Pragmatic PE) led the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering design, providing a fully integrated solution aligned with project timelines and budgetary goals. Utilizing BIM and cloud-based collaboration, the team streamlined interdisciplinary coordination to maximize efficiency and reduce overall design time and cost.

Mechanical Engineering

Pragmatic PE designed energy-efficient HVAC systems tailored for comfort and compliance, including:

• VRV systems with outdoor condensing units and multiple indoor fan coil units.

• Dedicated Outside Air Systems (DOAS) in each building for ventilation and indoor air quality.

• Ceiling-mounted exhaust fans in kitchens and restrooms.

• ASHRAE-compliant designs with air filtration, humidity control, and acoustic isolation.

By coordinating closely with architectural and structural teams, Pragmatic PE delivered a mechanical system that is high-performing, cost-conscious, and easy to install.

Electrical Engineering

The electrical scope ensured robust power, lighting, and life safety systems with:

• 120/208V, 3-phase distribution with main switchboards and rooftop bus ducts.

• Power supply to rooftop condensing units for HVAC systems.

• Dedicated EV charging panelboards per Hawaii energy codes.

• Ceiling-mounted LED lighting and illuminated egress signage.

• Emergency lighting with 90-minute battery backup.

• Fire alarm systems compliant with Hawaii fire code.

• NEC-based load calculations, voltage drop assessments, and feeder upsizing.

These systems were designed to support long-term resilience, energy efficiency, and safety across the entire development.

Plumbing Engineering

Pragmatic PE’s plumbing design balanced efficiency and redundancy with:

• Redundant gas-fired central water heating systems with mixing and recirculation valves.

• Stormwater and HVAC condensate integration into drainage systems.

• Optimized drainage layout using multiple code references and industry best practices.

• Water softening systems to extend water heater lifespan.

• Collaborative site water system design with civil engineers to support both domestic and fire demands.

The result: A durable, serviceable plumbing system built for performance and long-term reliability.

Fire Protection Engineering

The fire protection design included:

• Manual-wet standpipe and wet-pipe fire sprinkler systems for each structure.

• Strategic hydrant and FDC placement to meet Honolulu fire access codes.

• Fire/life safety design strategies for construction phasing and special inspections.

• Device layout coordination with architectural ceiling plans for aesthetic integrity.

• Integration of a dual-use site pump serving both domestic and fire systems through value engineering.

This fire protection design ensures code compliance, construction readiness, and effective emergency preparedness.

BIM Coordination

Pragmatic PE used BIM Collaborate Pro and Autodesk Construction Cloud to:

• Live-link Revit models across MEPF trades, architecture, and stakeholders.

• Enable real-time collaboration across remote teams.

• Maintain a single source of truth for coordination and clash detection.

This modernized approach to model-based coordination enhanced design accuracy, streamlined drawing production, and supported global team contributions with minimal disruption.

Results & Impact

Through innovative MEPF solutions and tight cross-disciplinary coordination, Pragmatic PE supported the delivery of a future-ready, affordable housing community:

• Enabled the architect and developer to stay on schedule and within budget.

• Delivered sustainable systems that prioritize comfort, maintainability, and longevity.

• Reduced design rework and construction risk through BIM and real-time collaboration.

Laulima LA-3 will serve as a resilient, community-driven model for sustainable housing in Hawaii.