Primary Electrical System Upgrade – Phases I and II
American Lake Division
Tacoma, WA

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Phase I Construction Cost: $750,000

Wood Harbinger provided a careful plan to replace the equipment without interruption of the healthcare operations of the hospital.


Wood Harbinger provided medium voltage technical analysis and electrical engineering services for this multi-phase project to upgrade the 13.8 kV electrical services for the VA American Lake Campus.

Phase I: Wood Harbinger provided for the replacement of the 13.8; 5 kV substation and switchgear and a 5 kV emergency generator serving the entire campus.

We replaced an obsolete 1,000 kW generator and walk-in switchgear with a new 750 kW generator set (with accommodation for another), utility service switchgear, and paralleling switchgear and controls. We also converted the single-ended system to a double-ended substation.

The only location available for the new equipment was where the existing equipment was located. Therefore, our design provided a step-by-step plan for the removal of the existing and installation of the new equipment without interruption of the day-to-day healthcare operations of the hospital.

Phase I Construction Cost: $750,000

Phase II: Wood Harbinger provided technical analysis and electrical engineering services for this multi-phase project to upgrade the medium voltage electrical service for the American Lake Campus. In this phase we reviewed and updated the existing electrical distribution study and analyzed the primary and emergency power distribution systems. Based on this study and analysis, we:

  • Studied and developed recommendations for 5 kV electrical distribution and riser panels in Building 2 (including a 40 hp elevator motor) and Building 81 (including a 300 kVA transformer);
  • Designed the replacement of the overhead 15 kV power lines with tree wire designed for overhead transmission;
  • Designed emergency power circuitry with associated switchgear for Buildings 4, 5, 6, and 7;
  • Provided cost estimating and commissioning; and
  • Designed a new underground 15 kV primary power feed from the Lakewood substation. The design supports the future addition of new generators for load shedding.

Phase II Estimated Construction Cost: $2.2 Million; (project not constructed)