S3DA Design was proud to lead the MEP engineering efforts for a complex residential project in Cathedral City, CA. The project involved the extensive restoration of a fire-damaged two-story house, coupled with major structural additions to expand the living space. Our mission was to replace compromised utilities with high-performance, code-compliant systems that serve both the original footprint and the new expansions. 

S3DA’s Scope: Our team provided a comprehensive MEP package tailored to the unique needs of a major remodel: 

  • Mechanical Design: Conducted specialized heat load reports to account for the new 2-story volume; designed rigid ductwork distribution secured to the building’s structure to ensure durability and airflow efficiency in the desert heat. 
  • Electrical Design: Engineered a complete electrical overhaul, including new lighting and power floor plans, single-line diagrams (SLD), and panel schedules designed to handle the increased load of the home’s new additions. 
  • Plumbing Design: Developed all-new domestic water and sanitary drainage plans, including 2D riser diagrams and a complete natural gas isometric riser diagram to safely support the renovated kitchen and utility areas. 
  • Compliance: Ensured all designs exceeded Title 24 energy requirements and local Cathedral City safety codes essential for fire-restoration permits. 

Key Challenges & Solutions: Fire damage often leaves behind “hidden” challenges in utility routing. S3DA utilized advanced coordination techniques to integrate new MEP systems into the existing 2-story framework while seamlessly transitioning into the new additions. By performing precise calculations for the expanded square footage, we ensured the HVAC and electrical systems were perfectly sized—avoiding the common mistake of under-powering a major residential expansion. 

The Result: S3DA Design delivered a fully integrated, permit-ready set of MEP documents. By acting as the Single Source of Responsibility, we helped the client move from a state of property loss to a modernized, energy-efficient home that is safer and more functional than the original structure.