Washington State University Steam System Upgrades wins 2006 ACEC Washington State Chapter Silver Award. Wood Harbinger received the State Chapter’s 2006 Engineering Excellence Silver Award for upgrading Washington State University’s Energy Plant Steam Distribution System.

Heating for Washington State University’s Pullman campus is provided by a central steam plant connected to 120 campus buildings through more than 18 miles of steam and condensate distribution piping. Washington State University called on Wood Harbinger to evaluate and optimize the system, to provide for future growth, and to tie the system into a new energy plant being constructed on the opposite side of campus from the existing energy plant.

Wood Harbinger first completed an extensive survey of the steam distribution system. The information gathered contributed to the development of an innovative solution to integrate the new and existing infrastructure and reuse existing steam distribution resources. Wood Harbinger’s design consolidated the separate 200 psi high pressure and 60 psi low pressure distribution systems into a single 100 psi system. Consolidating the two steam distribution systems saved capital, minimized disruption, and provided WSU with a more maintainable system. Richard Zilar, P.E., Project Manager for the University, stated that the project “...established Washington State University as a model for creative problem solving in similar campus infrastructure systems.”