Alter Engineers

2026-06-29T19:51:35Z

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Clients

2026-06-29T19:51:35Z

Laney College Library and Learning Resource Center

2026-06-29T17:52:17Z

This is a renovation project for the five-story, 88,000 SQFT library at Laney College. Alter Engineers is the mechanical, plumbing, and controls engineer of record. The project includes a complete replacement of the building's mechanical, plumbing, and controls systems, with a goal of reducing the building's energy use intensity (EUI) by 25%. The new design replaces the existing constant air volume (CAV) system with a variable air volume (VAV) system and substitutes the old boiler and chiller with a new high-efficiency heat recovery chiller.

Garfield Branch Library Renovation

2026-06-29T17:52:17Z

This renovation of the Garfield Branch Library shows how a thoughtful design change can make a big difference in a community space. We provided mechanical and plumbing design, focusing on a new air distribution system that uses underfloor supply to improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort. This approach is especially effective in a heating-dominated climate, creating a more welcoming and comfortable environment for the City of Santa Cruz's library patrons.

Branciforte Branch Library Renovation

2026-06-22T18:41:14Z

For the renovation of the beautiful, wood-finished Branciforte Branch Library, we had the opportunity to design the mechanical and plumbing systems. Our work involved replacing the heating system with new, efficient gas furnaces and designing an entirely new ductwork system, all carefully routed to preserve the building's beautiful interior. We also incorporated an economizer for ventilation to bring in fresh, cool air, ensuring this valued community space for the City of Santa Cruz is comfortable for years to come.

Waterside Warehouse

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

This dove into the world of indoor agriculture! We designed the mechanical and plumbing systems for this 24,400 sqft commercial cannabis facility, working closely with the experienced growers to learn the specific environmental needs of their operations. Our design provides precise temperature and humidity control for multiple grow rooms using a combination of dedicated split systems and dehumidifiers, with an efficient heat recovery ventilator (HRV) serving the common areas. It was a great collaboration that resulted in a perfectly tailored climate for a thriving indoor farm.

Sustainable Private Residence

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

This private home was designed to be as comfortable as it is sustainable. We provided mechanical, plumbing, and energy modeling services, focusing on a highly efficient radiant system for heating and cooling, complemented by a dedicated outdoor air system for continuous fresh air. Our energy analysis was key to informing the architectural design, helping the team at Siegal and Strain optimize the home's shading for year-round thermal comfort and performance.

Redwood Valley Single Family Home

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

Following the loss of the original home in a wildfire, we helped design this resilient, all-electric residential compound in Redwood Valley to operate completely off-grid. We engineered the mechanical and plumbing systems to maximize both comfort and self-sufficiency, pairing quiet, in-slab radiant heating and cooling with a dedicated outdoor air system for fresh, filtered air. The home’s hot water is supplied by a high-efficiency CO2 heat pump, with all systems powered by a solar array and battery storage.

823 Washington Perris Retail Store

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

This was a fantastic project designing the all-electric MEP systems for a new 4,162 sqft retail store in the hot desert climate of Perris, CA. It was a great opportunity to show how high-performance systems can deliver exceptional comfort even in extreme conditions. We used a super-efficient Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system for heating and cooling, paired with a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) to bring in fresh air without wasting energy, creating a welcoming and comfortable retail space for the client.

Frances Albrier – Community Center

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

We developed a conceptual design package for an all-electric mechanical and plumbing system for a new Frances Albrier Community Center, a ground-up replacement project for the City of Berkeley with a Zero Net Energy goal. This included a new community pool heated efficiently with a combination of electric heat pumps and solar thermal panels. It also featured a fully electric commercial kitchen, creating a truly modern, resilient, and fossil-fuel-free hub for local and regional programming.

High Performance Multifamily

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

This multidisciplinary conceptual design study set out to prove that high-performance, zero-net-energy multifamily buildings can be more profitable than standard construction. In partnership with BAR Architects, we developed a replicable, revenue-positive model for the Bay Area market. Our mechanical and plumbing design pairs a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) for superior ventilation with comfortable and efficient radiant heating and cooling, creating a scalable solution for future housing.

Code Readiness – Multifamily Measure Prioritization

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

This was an opportunity to help PG&E investigate the next wave of energy efficiency measures for California's 2025 Title 24 building code. Our team ran extensive parametric energy models on multifamily buildings across multiple climate zones to evaluate the impact of technologies like thin triple-pane glazing, improved air sealing, and heat recovery ventilators. It's rewarding to see our analysis directly inform policies that will make future homes across the state more comfortable and energy-efficient.

Campbell Library

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

We led the mechanical and plumbing design for a complete, down-to-the-studs renovation of the Campbell Library. The most exciting part was seeing it become an all-electric building. We initially designed it as "electric-ready" with a gas boiler to meet the budget, but the City of Campbell secured a last-mile electrification grant during construction. This allowed us to swap in a super-efficient air-to-water heat pump plant to provide heating for the new zoned VAV system, completely decarbonizing the building's operations for the community.

3100 Sterling - eGauge Headquarters

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

Alter Engineers performed the energy analysis to validate the zero net energy (ZNE) design for eGauge's new 13,400 sqft headquarters. The facility's mixed-use program - combining office, lab, and light manufacturing - presented a significant load management challenge for achieving ZNE status. Our analysis confirmed the viability of an all-electric design centered on a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, with the building's full energy consumption offset by a large photovoltaic array distributed across the roof and integrated into the east facade.

10919 San Pablo Ave

2026-06-22T18:37:07Z

We designed the mechanical and plumbing systems for this new 79,300 sqft, 68-unit multifamily building. To comply with California Title 24 2019's balanced ventilation standards, each dwelling unit was designed with a dedicated heat recovery ventilator (HRV) for supply and exhaust. The heating and cooling strategy utilizes a decentralized approach, with a dedicated multi-zone Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump serving the fan coil units within each apartment, ensuring independent thermal control.

Thermal Mass and Cheese!

2026-06-18T03:14:37Z

Don't die from the heat. Easiest evaporative cooler with things you probably already have

2026-06-18T03:14:37Z

Guide for On-site Water Reuse

2026-06-18T03:14:37Z

A Little Bay Area History

2026-06-18T03:14:37Z

Some fun resources for you

2026-06-18T02:35:17Z

Some test words to see what it looks like.

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