The UBC Kenny Building supports academic and research functions for the psychology department and includes offices, classrooms, and a wet animal laboratory located on the upper floor. The four-storey building with a mechanical penthouse relies on centralized campus utility services for heating, cooling, and domestic water.
Heating is provided through a district high-temperature hot water system following conversion from the campus steam plant. The same district system supports instantaneous domestic hot water generation. Cooling is served by a centrifugal chiller located within the penthouse mechanical room. Domestic cold water enters the building from the campus distribution system through a dedicated water entry room and is distributed vertically to the penthouse, where services separate to supply domestic and fire protection systems.
A review of the mechanical infrastructure identified that much of the equipment was original to the building and had exceeded typical service life expectations based on ASHRAE guidance. The condition and age of the systems supported the need for comprehensive mechanical system upgrades or full building renewal to address performance, reliability, and long-term operational requirements.