dbHMS

Impact Through Engineering

Website

About the firm

dbHMS is an engineering and commissioning consulting practice incorporated in 2002, with offices across the United States and India. It delivers high-performance, efficient, and sustainable designs worldwide, providing integrated systems engineering alongside technology design, lighting design, simulation, and building information modeling (BIM).

Established
2002
Firm type
MEP · Mechanical Engineering · Electrical Engineering · Fire Protection Engineering

People

Maxwell NicholsBIM Director

Capabilities

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing & Fire Protection Design

Delivers comprehensive systems design spanning HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering, incorporating both traditional systems and high-efficiency solutions.

  • Engineered HVAC Systems

    Design of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems including traditional configurations and advanced options like geo-exchange and radiant cooling.

  • Engineered Electrical Systems

    Power distribution and electrical systems design integrated with building operations.

  • Engineered Plumbing Systems

    Design of plumbing and sanitary systems tailored for commercial, institutional, and residential facilities.

  • Fire Protection Systems Design

    Engineering of robust fire safety and suppression systems to protect building occupants.

Technology Design

Designs technology infrastructures, data networks, and security installations required to support high-performance, modern facility operations.

  • Structured Cabling System Design

    Designing physical cabling pathways and network backbones for voice, data, and video communications.

  • Safety & Security System Design

    Engineering surveillance, access control, and communication networks for secure operations.

  • Audio Visual System Design

    Designing custom sound, video, and presentation environments for collaboration spaces.

  • Wireless & Cellular Enhancement

    Implementing wireless data networks, VoIP, and cellular signal enhancement solutions.

Lighting Design

Develops innovative and energy-efficient lighting solutions for architectural, interior, and site-specific projects.

  • Interior & Facade Lighting

    Designing customized illumination layouts for interior spaces and building exteriors to enhance aesthetic appeal.

  • Site Lighting

    Planning safe, functional, and efficient outdoor and landscape illumination.

  • Whole Building Lighting Control Systems

    Developing integrated control systems to optimize energy use and lighting flexibility.

  • Daylighting Modeling

    Analyzing natural daylight infiltration to optimize energy performance and indoor comfort.

Commissioning

Leads quality-focused verification processes to ensure that complex building systems are designed, installed, and operated to meet specified targets.

  • Fundamental & LEED Enhanced Commissioning

    Systematic validation of building systems to ensure performance and support green building certifications.

  • Retro-Commissioning & Audits

    Evaluating existing systems to find low-cost operational improvements and prolong equipment life.

  • Building Enclosure Commissioning

    Assessing the thermal and environmental integrity of building envelopes.

  • Building Performance Measurement & Verification

    Continuous tracking of energy and water utilization to verify ongoing efficiency.

High Performance Studio

Applies advanced computational tools and parametric optimization to reduce building emissions and energy use while maximizing comfort.

  • Whole Building Energy Modeling

    Simulating building energy performance to guide design selections and system sizing.

  • Parametric Performance Optimization

    Utilizing algorithmic tools to optimize building massing, orientation, and energy performance.

  • Energy Masterplanning

    Creating comprehensive, long-term energy strategies for campuses, portfolios, and master plans.

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics & Thermal-Radiant Analysis

    Using micro-climate simulations to evaluate airflow, ventilation, and thermal comfort.

  • Daylight & Façade Performance Optimization

    Engineering high-performance building skins to maximize natural light and manage solar heat gain.

  • Clean Technology Advisory

    Advising on renewable energy, microgrid mesh networks, and advanced thermodynamic systems.

BIM Services

Utilizes advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies to enhance design collaboration, optimize coordination, and streamline pre-construction.

  • BIM Coordination & Documentation

    Creating fully coordinated models up to LOD 300/350 and generating precise construction documentation.

  • As-Built Modeling & Laser Scanning

    Capturing existing facility conditions through laser scanning to generate accurate as-built models.

  • BIM Standards & Implementation

    Establishing workflows, health checks, execution plans, and training protocols for project teams.

  • Facilities Management & Data Integration

    Integrating assets and operational data within BIM models to support downstream owner operations.

  • BIM Roadmaps & Project Planning

    Developing strategic implementation plans and workflows for project-specific BIM delivery.

Industries

Education · Government · Commercial · Mixed-Use · Multifamily Residential · Arts & Culture · Religious · Aviation · Transportation · Hospitality · Industrial · Retail · Healthcare · Sports & Recreation

Projects

The Keller Center, The University of Chicago

Chicago · Education · Client: The University of Chicago

Project details

An institutional engineering project executed at the University of Chicago Keller Center.

The Powerhouse, Beloit College

Beloit · Education · Client: Beloit College

Project details

An academic facility project completed at Beloit College.