Case Study: Building Management System Retrofit at 375 Hudson St, NYC

375 Hudson St, NYC

T.M. Bier & Associates (TMBA) undertook a significant Building Management System (BMS) retrofit at 375 Hudson Street in New York City, a landmark 18-story office building completed in 1987. With a total area of 1.12 million square feet, the building achieved LEED Gold certification following a green retrofit in 2010. TMBA’s BMS retrofit project, initiated in 2019, focused on modernizing the building’s controls infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and supporting the client’s long-term sustainability goals.

CHALLENGES AND PROJECT SCOPE

The retrofit involved a comprehensive upgrade of the building’s existing Trane controls system, transitioning to a more advanced Schneider Electric BMS platform. TMBA’s scope included the control and monitoring integration of key building systems such as air handlers, cooling towers, and common space HVAC equipment. Because the building remained occupied throughout construction, the project required extensive coordination with contractors and building management to minimize disruption to tenants during phased mechanical upgrades.

DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION

TMBA’s approach to the project involved several key phases:

Initial Assessment and Design

TMBA began by conducting a detailed evaluation of the existing BMS and control panels. The project team, consisting of four technicians, two programmers, a design engineer, an estimator, and a project manager, developed comprehensive controls designs and sequences of operation to integrate with the building’s upgraded infrastructure. These designs ensured seamless communication between the BMS and the building’s HVAC systems.

Cooling Tower Pump Room Coordination

A significant portion of the project involved coordination with a pre-assembled cooling tower pump room that was fabricated in Canada. The assembly included water pumps, cooling VFDs, fans, BMS panels, and a water filtration system. TMBA provided controls integration support and wiring design documentation necessary for the BMS to communicate with the new equipment and systems.

Fiber Optic Communication Rise

TMBA installed a fiber optic communication riser throughout the building to improve network connectivity, increase data transmission speed, and support efficient operation of the upgraded BMS platform.

PROJECT EXECUTION DURING COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unforeseen challenges, temporarily delaying construction activity throughout New York City. However, reduced occupancy within the building allowed the overall project team to accelerate portions of the mechanical upgrade schedule, enabling TMBA to complete controls integration, commissioning, and system coordination activities more efficiently than originally anticipated. TMBA also coordinated BMS integration and controls modifications associated with the phased relocation of two of the building’s four cooling towers to help maintain uninterrupted operation for tenants requiring continuous cooling.

NYSERDA PARTNERSHIP AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT

One of the most notable aspects of the project was TMBA’s involvement with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). TMBA became a certified NYSERDA vendor, enabling 375 Hudson to participate in the Real Time Energy Management (RTEM) program. Through this initiative, TMBA helped the building qualify for energy efficiency incentives by implementing Schneider Electric’s Building Advisor software. This platform provides real-time system analytics, maintenance alerts, and energy-saving recommendations to help optimize building performance.

OUTCOMES AND CLIENT SATISFACTION

Building management has expressed satisfaction with the upgraded system, particularly the improved energy efficiency, enhanced visibility into building operations, and increased flexibility provided by the new Schneider Electric BMS platform. The project successfully modernized the building’s controls infrastructure while supporting long-term operational efficiency and tenant comfort.

ADDITIONAL PROJECT: TENANT-SPECIFIC RETROFITS

In parallel with the building-wide retrofit, TMBA also supported a separate tenant improvement project spanning floors 2 through 5 of the building. During the tenant’s open-concept renovation, TMBA provided BMS controls integration and automation support for new VAVs, supplemental AC units, hot water heaters with leak detection systems, and other HVAC-related components tailored to the tenant’s operational requirements.

CONCLUSION

TMBA’s BMS retrofit at 375 Hudson demonstrates the company’s expertise in complex controls integration and building automation projects within occupied commercial environments. By implementing advanced energy management tools and working closely with NYSERDA, TMBA helped enhance the building’s operational efficiency, improve system visibility, and support sustainability initiatives while delivering a modernized BMS platform designed for long-term performance.