The Chatter 2021

Cianbro and A/Z Collaborate to Secure University Electrical Project

By Matt Smith

In March 2021, the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) awarded Cianbro a multi-year electrical upgrade project throughout its campus located in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Founded in 1807, UMB offers some of the oldest professional schools in dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, social work, and nursing in the United States.

Cianbro’s Industrial & Manufacturing and Building teams worked closely with A/Z Corporation to successfully qualify for and estimate the project. The project scope is broken up into three design packages, named Package A, B, and C, that make up the entire project.

Package A includes installing four new 15kV utility substations at the newly constructed North Station Switchyard with utility power supplied by Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) and a new switchgear control system that will control and monitor the North Station Switchyard. Additionally, Package A’s scope of work includes the supply and installation of a new 15kV generator paralleling the switchgear package being installed in the existing Howard Hall School of Medicine building.

Package B includes removing and replacing all existing 15kV switchgear and 480V switchgear in the Howard Hall School of Medicine and the Bressler Research Building. Package B’s scope of work also includes the fit-out and installation of a newly built electrical room in the Howard Hall basement along with new switchgear, HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems.

Package C consists of the removal and replacement of low-voltage panel boards in the existing 11-story University of Maryland Medical School Teaching Facility, replacement of 15kV generator switchgear in the existing University of Maryland Health and Science Facility, and supplying and installing a new 2MW natural gas generator at the existing UMB Peaking Plant including all associated civil, foundation, mechanical, and electrical installations.

This project is complex and presents many logistical challenges, primarily because of the active downtown Baltimore location of the existing University of Maryland Baltimore campus. Many of the large equipment lifts need to be planned and performed off-shift or on weekends to allow the closure of some main streets in downtown Baltimore for crane placement. The project also involves coordination with multiple stakeholders to ensure its success.

The project is currently under way, with the team mobilizing in early June 2021, with substantial completion scheduled for July 2023 and overall completion by November 2023. Cianbro has developed a positive working relationship with the client on this project, which is one of many sizeable electrical distribution upgrade projects slated to be constructed by UMB over the next decade.

The following team members were fundamental in acquiring the project: Senior Electrical Estimator Nolan Johnson (A/Z), Senior Project Estimator Lamon Harris, Business Development Manager Joe Corson, Project Manager Chih Chen, Safety Supervisor Jack Patterson, Project Superintendent Scott Morris, and many others.