RMF Engineering

10/23/2026

How do you replace critical laboratory exhaust infrastructure without disrupting the research taking place inside the building?

In a recent Lab Design News article, RMF's Stefan Domby, PE, LEED AP, discusses the phased replacement of aging exhaust and heat recovery systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore's Frank S. Bressler Research Building. The project maintained ventilation and building operations throughout construction while improving reliability, maintainability, energy recovery, and system redundancy.

The article highlights the planning, coordination, and technical strategies that made the upgrade possible in a fully occupied research environment.

🔗 Click here for the full article: https://bit.ly/4i9vi4z

10/14/2026

🌱 What happens when decarbonization significantly increases electrical demand? Episode 6 of RMF’s Decarb Debrief dives in ➡️ https://youtu.be/ICIciowIT3g

In this session, RMF Electrical Engineer Jared Markle, PE explores how decarbonization is reshaping campus electrical systems. As institutions electrify heating and cooling, electrical demand is rising, requiring thoughtful planning to ensure capacity, efficiency, and reliability.

Drawing from RMF project experience, the discussion highlights how teams evaluate infrastructure at both the substation and building level and implement strategies to meet increased demand through a combination of utility supply, on-site renewable generation, and system optimization.

The outcome: resilient electrical systems that support long-term decarbonization goals.

Learn more on RMF's Newsroom: https://bit.ly/4zBnXC8

Strategic electrification of heating and cooling systems often incr...

10/09/2026

Swinging FORE a good cause!

Last week, RMF SC’s Raquel Deschler, Zach Bauer, and Zack Lander, joined Jasmeen Shaw, Executive Director of Capital Programs for the Charleston County School District's 24th Annual Mark Cobb Memorial/Ron McWhirt Scholarship Golf Tournament at Charleston Municipal Golf Course. The event supports scholarship funds for CCSD students, and we were glad to contribute as a hole sponsor.

As a longtime partner of CCSD, providing MEP building engineering at many schools across the district, it was meaningful to be part of this event that creates opportunities for students while bringing together organizations committed to the schools and communities they serve.

10/08/2026

Conversations at the AASHE 2026 Conference & Expo focused on many of the challenges and opportunities shaping higher education sustainability today, bringing together campus leaders, practitioners, and industry partners to share perspectives and lessons learned.

RMF was glad to be part of those discussions, including a Lightning Talk on Sustainability Planning featuring Martha Larson, RMF's Director of Sustainability, who shared observations from the work we're seeing with colleges and universities across the country.

As higher education institutions continue to navigate energy planning, infrastructure renewal, and decarbonization goals, opportunities like hashtag provide valuable space for practical conversations and shared learning.

09/29/2026

The path to decarbonization looks different for every campus.

Towson University has set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move toward net zero operations. RMF recently completed a campus-wide decarbonization study that provides a practical roadmap for getting there.

With benchmarks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 and achieve net zero direct emissions by 2040, the study evaluated heating, cooling, and electrical infrastructure across 48 buildings totaling nearly 4.9 million gross square feet to identify the most effective path forward.

Because space heating is one of the largest sources of campus greenhouse gas emissions, the study focused on practical strategies to transition away from fossil fuels while maintaining reliable campus operations. In addition to evaluating heating technologies, the study examined opportunities for solar PV, battery storage, lighting upgrades, and building envelope improvements.

RMF's recommended approach combines air source heat pumps, heat recovery chillers, and a new campus hot water plant. The strategy is projected to reduce Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8,600 metric tons annually, representing an estimated 87% reduction from the business-as-usual baseline. The work provides a framework for future investment decisions as Towson advances its long-term sustainability goals.

As campuses plan for a lower-carbon future, understanding existing systems and identifying the most effective investments is an important first step.

09/23/2026

Elizabeth City State University is making a transformative investment in the future of its campus infrastructure through a multi-phase modernization program designed to support growth, reliability, and long-term resiliency across the University. As one of North Carolina’s proud HBCUs, this investment represents a significant commitment to enhancing the student experience and strengthening campus operations for generations to come.

RMF is providing civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering services for the phased upgrades, which include replacement of the campus medium voltage electrical distribution and domestic water systems serving more than 1.5 million square feet of facilities. The project also includes two new domestic water booster stations, a central generator plant, and hot and chilled water distribution upgrades.

The new campus domestic water booster stations and distribution system is fully operational, and upgrades to the power distribution system are substantially complete. All four 2 MW medium voltage generators, located on campus adjacent to the Central Utility Plant and the RL Vaughn Center, have been installed, with startup pending. Installation of the paralleling gear is the final major milestone for the generator project. When complete, the new self-healing electrical distribution system will improve reliability and resiliency across campus while creating the capacity to support ECSU's growth for the next 50 years.

09/21/2026

RMF's work on North Carolina State University's Electrical Distribution Upgrade has been recognized with a 2026 ENR Texas & Southeast Best Project Award in the Higher Education/Research category.

“This recognition reflects the level of collaboration it took to modernize such a complex mission-critical campus,” said Chris Skillestad, Principal at RMF. “Replacing a 50-year-old electrical system while minimizing the impact to campus life was no small feat, and it speaks to the strength of the partnership between our team, Balfour Beatty US, and the university's many key contributors, including Tate Boulware, of NC State Power Systems.”

Completed in 2025, the multi-year project replaced the university's aging medium-voltage electrical infrastructure with a state-of-the-art SCADA system. The work was phased and rigorously tested to maintain reliable power to two district energy plants, a co-generation facility, and more than 100 building transformers throughout construction while delivering increased capacity and enabling safer remote operations.

RMF Principal Matthew Boatwright noted that higher education campuses are asking their electrical infrastructure to support more research, density, and critical operations than ever before. Projects like this help institutions build the capacity needed to support long-term campus resilience.

Congratulations to the project team and partners who helped make this achievement possible.

Learn more on RMF's Newsroom: https://bit.ly/4hgZvOS

Engineering News-Record

09/18/2026

Built to support changing exhibits. Engineered to keep the focus on the experience.

At the South Carolina Aquarium, RMF helped create a flexible exhibit space designed to transform with each new installation.

The first fit-out at the John A. Hill Family Discovery Gallery is Jurassic Seas, but the space was engineered with future exhibits in mind, whether jellyfish, fish tanks, touch-and-feel experiences, or something entirely different.

Making that possible meant rethinking what happens behind the exhibits. RMF relocated valves, piping and drains, modified chilled and hot water systems, and integrated life-support systems for saltwater and freshwater tanks, along with compressed air for the bubbler systems. The utilities were designed to support multiple configurations, then carefully concealed within the exhibit environment.

RMF’s structural and electrical teams also collaborated on a lighting truss with RGBW capabilities, creating dynamic lighting scenes that can shift colors and fade between settings with a touch screen.

In addition to MEP design engineering, RMF acted as the lead consultant on the project with Zachary Lander, PE leading the team.

📷: BuildWorks Marketing

09/16/2026

Three days of engagment. Three causes. One shared commitment to making a difference in the communities RMF serves.

Last week, RMF Charlotte showed up across the region to participate in three events centered on enhancing community impact and workforce development, education, and healthcare.

⛳ Sept. 9 | Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament
RMF's Parker Litchfield and Craig Blythe teed up on the course with Gresham Smith in support of the Mint Hill Chamber Foundation’s community initiatives and Novant Health, who served as the tournament’s Title Sponsor.

🏆 Sept. 10 | Fayetteville State University Entrepreneurial Impact Awards Gala
Andrea Thompson represented RMF at the inaugural Awards Gala, celebrating the innovators, business leaders, and community champions driving economic growth throughout Fayetteville.

🎯 Sept. 11 | AdventHealth Women's Health & Wellness Clay Shoot
RMF sponsored the event and fielded the only all-women foursome. Joined by teammates from McMillan Pazdan Smith and AdventHealth, our team perfected their aim, broke some clays, and supported Cancer Services at AdventHealth Hendersonville.

09/01/2026

RMF Engineering has been named one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina!

This recognition is not just about what we design and build. It's about who we are.

It means even more knowing it reflects the experience and feedback of the people who make RMF what it is every day.

At RMF, people make the difference. Our teams learn by doing, take on meaningful responsibility early, and have opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. We hold ourselves to high standards of technical excellence while investing in our people through mentorship, leadership development, and ample ways to expand their skills and trade.

Just as important, we have FUN doing it. From weekly lunches and friendly competitions to volunteer projects, dragon boat racing, and company outings and celebrations, our culture extends well beyond the office and is what makes RMF SC unique.

It also helps that the work matters. Across SC, our teams help design environments where people learn, heal, and thrive, creating a lasting impact on the communities we serve.

Thank you to the people who make RMF what it is, and to our SC team for helping create a culture that makes this recognition possible. It was a great evening celebrating alongside SCBIZ and the other honorees, with the 80s theme adding a little extra flair to the occasion.