Reform of the Freedom Tower
Miami
Merit Award
Sent by: Integral Engineering
Owner: Miami Dade College
Main design company: MC Harry Associates
General contractor: Thornton Construction Inc.
MEP Engineer: Engineers Fraga
Mechanical Engineer: Global V2E
MEP Engineer: Integral Engineering
To modernize the mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure throughout the Freedom Tower, the team first had to figure out what was behind the walls. There was no historically accurate build, so teams began the $10.3 million project with high-precision point cloud scanning to create a full digital MEP model. This revealed spatial constraints and hidden systems while providing collision detection and infrastructure mapping. The calendar was linked to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the tower and the opening of the FIFA headquarters and museum in the United States.
The mechanical work integrated a hydronic system with high-efficiency air handling units, 23,134 pounds of ductwork and a specialized smoke evacuation system that brought the building up to modern safety standards. The electrical work provided a new round of utilities and a complete overhaul of the power distribution network, including the replacement of the EMT with stainless steel pipe, the relocation of two existing generators and the installation of the historic facade lighting and light show. The plumbing included a renovation of the sanitary and domestic water systems, including a custom-designed underground sewage discharge station.
