PROJECT:
Multiple-Building Meridian Office Complex

CATEGORY #7
Project of the Year – Over $2 Million

Subcontractor
OWNER
Merrill Lynch

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Huber, Hunt & Nichols

ARCHITECTS/DESIGNER
Michael H. Ezell, Architect
Thompson Ventulett Stainback & Associates

ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL ENGINEER
ABS Consultants Inc.

SOLID RETURN ON AN ELECTRICAL INVESTMENT

To process millions of investment transactions and better serve its client investors, Merrill Lynch developed a multiple-building campus-style office complex at the Meridian Office Park, south of Denver. The first phase of the project was construction of two four-story office buildings (Buildings A and B) and a three-story parking garage – a prototype complex for future Merrill Lynch facilities throughout the country.

The structures are designed to house approximately 2,500 Merrill Lynch employees who conduct trading activities and provide clients with a multitude of other services and investment products. The sheer volume of electronic and telecommunications activity passing through the complex means that a power outage or electrical system failure could cost Merrill Lynch literally millions of dollars per minute. Such a failure was not an option in this investment scenario.

So critical is the failure-proof functioning of these operations to Merrill Lynch and its clients that the relatively simple replacement of an electrical breaker requiring an outage can take up to a two-month lead time to schedule and coordinate.

Ludvik was selected to install the electrical service and complex electrical systems on this hard-bid project. The amount of conduit, wire, electrical distribution equipment and devices required to provide power and emergency protection into this intricately packed 450,000 square feet of space makes the Merrill Lynch Meridian project worthy of ACE consideration.

EFFICIENT EXECUTION

To insure uninterrupted power under any circumstances short of a direct hit by a meteor, Building A is equipped with a 6,000 Amp service and a 1200 Amp emergency service, a 500 KW emergency generator, and 200 KVA of UPS battery backup. Building B has a 4000 Amp main service, an 800 Amp emergency service, a 350 KW emergency generator and an 85 KVA UPS. Backup generators are capable of operating at full voltage within 10 seconds of start-up. With the inclusion of Emergency Transfer Switches which instantly route electricity to critical areas, Merrill Lynch is virtually guaranteed their critical operations will never be shut down due to loss of power.

The interior layout of the two buildings was predominantly based on the open office concept with a high-density concentration of work cubicles on six-inch raised floors. Each cubicle accommodated up to four workstations requiring as many as eight telephone and data lines with fiber optics and a four-plex power outlet for each desk. Instead of traditional electrical drawings, Ludvik utilized furniture layouts to position outlets individually and precisely under each office and cubicle space escutcheon.

Because its business is characterized by constant change, Merrill Lynch anticipates frequent reconfiguration of the interior office space. In response to this need, Ludvik fed all electrical outlets with prefabricated, flexible MC cable under the raised floor instead of conduit and wire. This choice of materials will enable Merrill Lynch to reconfigure work areas or create entirely new departmental operations without incurring major remodeling expenses. Ludvik also recommended that future installations accommodate under-floor branch distribution every 20 feet instead of every 30 feet to make reconfiguration even easier and less costly.

In addition to the installation of extensive fire detection and security components, Ludvik implemented a sophisticated computerized control system for the lighting throughout the facilities. This complex-but-versatile system enables precision control over all lighting to maximize energy efficiency. Switching capabilities allow for local manual control, automated control or remote control – even from Merrill Lynch offices located in New York City.

A special problem was encountered during the installation of electrical and other components in the five-story atrium area. Light fixtures, fire alarm beam detectors and other devices had to be installed at heights up to 75 feet above the floor. Two elaborate, motorized scaffolds were used by all trades to complete the multitude of construction activities. Scheduling and efficient execution became paramount to the project’s successful completion. Daily foremen meetings were held to coordinate activities between trades to decide who followed whom on the scaffolds. Schedules were frequently prepared by hand on short notice to accommodate various installations and tasks; and they were often "tweaked" on a daily basis. The Ludvik crew, which reached a peak of 45 electricians, had to stay flexible and prepared.

Ludvik’s stringent Safety and Total Quality Management programs were applied, as usual, on this project. All Ludvik personnel received ongoing training in fall protection, electrical hazards, caught-between and struck-by hazards and associated safety procedures and issues. Ludvik Electric does not compromise when it comes to safety. In the final tally, a total of 81,000 hours was expended on this project and there were zero (0) lost time hours due to accident.

Ludvik provided Merrill Lynch with a solid return on its investment for this complex electrical installation.