PROJECT
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Headquarters

CATEGORY #6
Project of the Year - $1 - $2 Million
Subcontractor

OWNER
Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Hensel Phelps Construction Company

ARCHITECTS
Michael Barber, Architecture

ENGINEER
Swanson Rink, Consulting Engineers

SUBMITTED BY:
Ludvik Electric Co.

Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association is a wholesale supplier of electric power to 32 distribution systems located in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. Tri-State generates and routes power to more that 650,000 people living primarily in rural areas of these states.

The Association is always looking for ways to operate more efficiently. To that end, a new headquarters facility in Westminster, Colorado was built. The three-story building also incorporates a below-grade service level and a penthouse. According to Frank R. Knutson, Tri-State General Manager, "The new facility will allow us to consolidate the majority of our personnel to one location and operate more efficiently with fewer employees."

The 158,772-square-foot structure was built next to an existing operations center and now houses nearly all of Tri-State’s administrative personnel. The Association’s building and consolidation plan called for a facility that would "promote higher productivity and more face-to-face interaction among employees while significantly reducing travel time and costs." Projected savings are approximately $1 million annually.

The layout of the facility included 40% hardwall offices and 60% open workstation offices. The below-grade service level incorporated a copy center, vehicle service area, lunchroom, central files and an employee lounge. A striking design element is a state-of-the-art executive rotunda conference center and an employee lounge. Ludvik was tapped to install power, electrical and related systems on a hard-bid contract. As you’ll soon see, there were a few strings attached.

Electrical construction encompassed new 2500 Amp service and distribution, outlets, switches and devices, lighting, security and fire alarm systems, telephone system, sound masking, data wiring and cabling, and exterior lighting. Emergency power as well as the security and fire alarm systems had to be tied-in to the existing operations building.

Lighting systems chosen in the office areas were 2’ x 4’ and 2’ x 2’ 32-watt fluorescent fixtures with electronic ballasts. These efficient fixtures reduce energy consumption while providing ideal lighting for work areas, especially in open areas.

To create a more efficient working environment, Ludvik installed a sound masking system throughout the open workstation areas. Known as "white sound", the system reduces the intrusion of exterior sound into the open office cubicles, creating a quieter, more relaxing workspace for employees.

The facility’s security is controlled via a cardreader type system with a special feature. Entry requires insertion of an access card into the reader. However, infrared sensors automatically unlock doors on exit. A highly efficient and secure system.

Ludvik also installed lightning protection and a transient voltage surge system (TVSS) in the building to protect against equipment damage and minimize downtime.

But the crowning achievement in the installation was the multi-purpose conference/ board room. The rotunda-style room is surrounded with glass walls and features a huge round table in the center. Three coves of specialty cold cathode lighting in the ceiling as well as downlighting, uplighting, tracklights and wall-mounted fluorescents create a dramatic lighting effect in the room for any function or activity. All lights are controlled by a programmable dimming system. In addition, Ludvik executed rough-in for a sophisticated audio/visual presentation system which features three screens positioned around the room, enabling those sitting at the table to view images without any awkward contortions.

A short 11-month construction schedule and high-end finishes throughout the facility, especially in the rotunda, created several installation challenges for Ludvik.

First, much of the electrical work had to be done out of the usual sequence. For example, carpet and prefinished vinyl-coated sheetrock were installed before Ludvik did the electrical wiring rough-in and installation of 12" x 12" raceway for telephone and data cable above the ceiling grid. Coordination meetings with other trades (including two weekly sessions during peak activity) identified potential trouble spots and helped get electrical and lighting systems installed without damaging or interfering with other finish work.

Another challenge was installation of electrical, multi-level lighting and a/v systems in the round room very early in the construction process. Pieces of string served as the solution. After locating the precise center of the room, strings of varying length were used to determine positions of fixtures in the ceiling and along the walls on "arcs" around the room – a solution that is about as simple as it gets. In addition, shorter-than-normal pieces of track were utilized to accommodate the curve required for track lighting in the rotunda configuration. This technique resulted in a more aesthetically pleasing installation. As they say, one picture is worth a thousand words – wait until you see this room!

In addition to the usual safety issues, i.e. electrical hazards, tool utilization, etc., this project presented a unique challenge. All mechanical, piping and electrical service was supplied to each floor via a 10’ x 10’ shaft running vertically from a crawl space to the penthouse. Access to anchoring points and racks at the back of the shaft was through an opening on each floor. To insure safe installation, Ludvik installed a temporary plank over the opening and anchored it from the floor above. Electricians used a retractable harness system to access the work areas – safely. Result: no lost time accidents in 39,213 hours on the job with a peak crew of 35.