Project Profile: Project Cosmeaux
The addition of new robotic equipment technologies throughout the life of the project design resulted in frequently changing electrical thresholds.
Engineering firm: Jordan & Skala Engineers
2024 MEP Giants rank: 52
Project: Project Cosmeaux
Location: Shreveport, LA, United States
Building type: Distribution facility
Exterior shot of the distribution center taken by one of Jordan & Skala Engineers’ team members during a site visit. Courtesy: Jordan & Skala Engineers
Project type: New construction
Engineering services: Electrical, power; HVAC, mechanical; lighting; plumbing, piping; other (EV charging)
Project timeline: December 2020 to August 2023
MEP/FP engineering budget: $245,000
Challenges
Exterior shot of the distribution center taken by one of Jordan & Skala Engineers’ team members during a site visit. Courtesy: Jordan & Skala Engineers
For this new 650,900 sq ft industrial build, our team encountered a few challenges regarding the electrical design requirements. The addition of new robotic equipment technologies throughout the life of the project design resulted in frequently changing electrical thresholds, which caused the overall electrical loads to continually change course during the design and even the construction phase of the project. Additionally, procurement issues for long lead electrical distribution equipment presented a secondary challenge that inhibited aspects of the typical design process. The design layout had to adapt to accommodate these unknown elements to keep the construction process underway, resulting in creative problem-solving solutions by our team to work with the equipment that had been delivered or could be procured in the given construction timeframe.
Exterior shot of the distribution center taken by one of Jordan & Skala Engineers’ team members during a site visit. Courtesy: Jordan & Skala Engineers
Solutions
Exterior shot of the distribution center taken by one of Jordan & Skala Engineers’ team members during a site visit. Courtesy: Jordan & Skala Engineers
To address the continuously changing equipment load information, the electrical distribution layout had to be flexible yet robust to support unknown technology equipment requirements. Additionally, the electrical system was tailored into a modular type design where new electrical loads could be served in blocks as needed to support the owner’s equipment. To address the issue posed by long lead times on equipment and to keep construction moving forward, a series of main and intermediate distribution panels were installed throughout the facility. They were placed on different floor levels at strategic locations and served from multiple electric services to be able to support the pending electrical loads. When the delayed items finally arrived, the improvised electrical distribution equipment design proved its worth and was sufficient to support the new technology equipment loads even after several iterations of equipment changes.
Exterior shot of the distribution center taken by one of Jordan & Skala Engineers’ team members during a site visit. Courtesy: Jordan & Skala Engineers
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