WHO WE ARE
James Posey Associates is a consulting engineering firm based in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1911, we provide mechanical and electrical design and engineering services to architects and building owners.
What Sets Us Apart
More than 100 years of mechanical and electrical design excellence is a remarkable accomplishment by any standards, but at James Posey Associates, our successful history is never taken for granted. Whereas quality is too often thought of as just one of many components in the performance of professional services, we believe a total commitment to quality is the framework for the entire life of every project. We have the expertise required to engineer the project vision and support award-winning design, collaborating with the architect and owner to achieve the project’s goals.
Innovative Solutions to Complex Problems
Projects often present multiple design challenges, including phased construction, building occupancy during construction, preservation of historic finishes, and integration of new and renovation of existing systems without using additional program space for infrastructure. An example of our expertise in this area was the modernization of Carey Hall at Baltimore’s Gilman School . The oldest building on the school’s 68-acre campus, Carey Hall is the centerpiece of the campus. Originally constructed in 1920, the modernization program for this iconic building called for interior renovations of all four levels of the existing building, and construction of three major additions. Our design accommodated uninterrupted class schedules during construction, integrated new and existing systems, and maintained the building’s historic finishes.
Point Cloud Laser Scanning
JPA has added LiDAR scanning capability as part of our technology arsenal with the addition of the Leica BLK360, using an iPad Pro 11”, Leica Field 360 software, and with capabilities which include walk/fly through, distance measuring, and 3D panoramic photo viewing. The software includes the ability to take detailed project photos, including rooms, layout, equipment, nameplate information, piping details, etc., tagging the photograph location to the point cloud.
Once downloaded, our team uses the results on projects, ensuring more timely and efficient gathering of field data; and more accurate integration of new design elements, existing services, equipment, and architectural and structural details, often providing resources for extra details not formerly captured. JPA has been using this expertise to document existing project conditions, especially for MEP spaces; and to plan, locate, and design updated or new systems in existing facilities. These tools aid our designers in high performance building design, particularly in historic facilities, by adapting new and modern systems, while still preserving a facility’s historic components and fabric. Our team has successfully integrated this technology into our design routine, using it on the dozens of projects.
Sustainability and High Performance Building Design
Sustainability requires an integrated and collaborative design approach. It places a premium on cross-disciplinary communication among all project team members, resulting in a more sustainable and energy efficient building, and increased client satisfaction. We welcome the opportunity to be part of the early design stages, providing targeted input on project design decisions, MEP system solutions, and building energy goals. Dozens of our projects are LEED Gold or Silver certified, with many more currently registered for certification. Our portfolio includes Maryland’s first LEED Gold certified hospital, first LEED Gold certified school, and first Net-Zero certified school.
High performance building design also requires on-going collaboration between the owner and design team during the design and construction phases for setting project goals, installing appropriate system types, tracking system operation, and monitoring building energy consumption. In the case of the new 106,221-GSF Wilde Lake Middle School for the Howard County Public School System, the county’s prototype middle school design was modified to minimize annual energy consumption. Opened on January 1, 2017, this LEED Platinum school was designed as a “Net Zero Energy” building, with an actual first year energy consumption of 428,300 kWh and a resultant site EUI of 13.8 kBtu/sf/yr. To offset energy consumption, onsite energy production is generated by the school’s 633.5 kW solar array. The project was recognized for its outstanding design innovation and successful implementation, receiving multiple awards, including First Place in the 2019 ASHRAE Technology Awards, Category II – New Educational Facilities.
Building Information Modeling
JPA uses Building Information Modeling (BIM) to enhance the value delivered to our clients. BIM allows us to visualize coordination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems with architectural and structural components. BIM provides the capability to visualize coordination of phased infrastructure projects where new components and systems must temporarily coexist with existing infrastructure. BIM establishes a critical link between the design of the building envelope with building energy modeling. Our models help to create a valuable communication tool between the design and construction teams, providing builders with access to three dimensional design solutions for difficult coordination problems. Our models also create value beyond planning and construction, with embedded information ready for integration with computer-aided facility management software.
Historic Preservation and Attention to Architectural Detail
Renovation projects within historic buildings often require solutions which minimize the impact to historic fabric. JPA recognizes the importance of developing creative design solutions which integrate modern high-performance building systems seamlessly within a building’s existing pathways, preserving the integrity of historic fabric. We have a motivated and experienced team who are willing and able to investigate the restoration and preservation zones in detail, gain a holistic understanding of project requirements, observe the opportunities and constraints provided by existing structure and finishes, and offer creative solutions to achieve the best possible result. We have been fortunate to provide design services within some of our nation’s most treasured historic structures including the U.S. Capitol, every major Congressional office building, every major Library of Congress building, several Smithsonian Institute museums, a civil war era hospital, a historic theater, the Washington Monument, the Charles Carroll house, an 1840’s maritime warehouse, a turn of the century post office, and many others.
Our Staff
We take pride in the loyalty and tenure of our staff. This has been essential to the trust, reliability, and consistent level of service we bring to clients. We have an impressive record of continuity in the firm’s leadership, with only five presidents and four generations of principals in over a century of practice. The staff includes more than twenty registered Professional Engineers and LEED Accredited Professionals.
Small Business Status
James Posey Associates maintains registration with the federal System for Award Management (SAM), and is self-certified with the U.S. Small Business Administration as a Small Business under NAICS code 541330 for Professional Engineering Services. We are also certified as a Small Business in the state of Maryland’s Small Business Reserve Program. Recently we achieved certification as a Small Business with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, in the SWaM (Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) program. While we qualify with these entities as a Small Business, we have the resources to provide full service design on large scale and complex projects.
