Project Title:

Electrical Distribution System Upgrades - Phase 1

Client:

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Location:

Laurel, MD

Summary:

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Applied Physics Lab (APL) consists of 1.8 million GSF of laboratory, manufacturing / research, and office space. Several near term facilities are planned for the campus through the year 2006 to increase the campus to 2.4 million GSF of building space. The ultimate projected growth will increase the campus building to 3.9 million GSF beyond the year 2010.

Ross Infrastructure provided the master planning of the electrical system which included evaluation of the existing 33 kV distribution system serving the APL campus and generating various options to improve the reliability and redundancy of the electrical distribution system, identify budgetary construction costs for each option, establish the criteria for the future campus electrical distribution as well as to provide direction to support near term facilities planned for construction. The overall budget estimated for the complete build-out of the electrical distribution system was $5,000,000.

The construction project to implement the master plan recommendations is identified as the Electrical Distribution System Upgrades (EDSU). Phase 1 of the EDSU project involved the transition of approximately 60% (2,000 LF) of overhead 33 kV overhead cabling to underground encased conduits. This required approximately 7,000 LF of underground ductbanks to be installed throughout the campus.

The existing 33 kV radial distribution system was replace and Phase 1 began the implementation of the new primary loop and tap distribution to the individual buildings. The new loop and tap
system provides 33 kV cabling redundancy while the underground distribution improves the system's reliability as well as to improve the aesthetics of the campus.

Additional goals for the Phase 1 project involved the replacement of an obsolete and undersized 33 kV to 480 volts secondary substation which served multiple local buildings. Phase 1 also
included the extension of ther existing telecommunications system. The budget for Phase 1 was $1,800,000.