Santa Clara University Mission Church, Santa Clara, CA

Category: Places of Worship

Square Footage: 1,430 sq ft

Services Provided: HVAC

Completion Date: 2015

Owner: Santa Clara University

Mechanical Contractor: Rich Cortez and Sons

The Sacristy, Chapel, and office upgrade project of this historic building constructed in 1928 presented several challenges. The existing utilities were concealed behind finely detailed walls and ceilings. The church is the centerpiece of the campus and an iconic structure, so installing equipment outside the building or changing the appearance of the envelope had to be avoided as much as possible.

Pragmatic PE engineered split systems over the office areas to serve the office, Sacristy, and chapel in order to maintain the existing architectural elements within the latter two. All condensing units were hidden behind dense foliage outside the building to minimize their visibility. The limited ceiling space posed a major design challenge in addition to the maintaining the historicity of the architecture, and Pragmatic PE met the challenges. Santa Clara University appreciated our role in the project so much that Pragmatic PE became a regular vendor of MEP engineering services for the school’s future projects.