Health Care Facilities

Project Profile: UNC Health Central Generator Plant

This project worked on adding electrical modernization and centralized utilities on an existing large university and medical center campus.

Engineering firm: Dewberry
2023 MEP Giants rank: 30
Project: UNC Health Central Generator Plant
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States
Building type: Hospital/health care facility, central generator plant
Project type: New construction
Engineering services: Automation, controls; electrical, power; fire, life safety; HVAC, mechanical; lighting; plumbing, piping; SCADA
Project timeline: December 2018 to July 2023
MEP/FP engineering budget: $25 million

The central generator plant will hold eight, 3MW generators with Tier 2 to Tier 4 compliant exhaust emissions control. Photo courtesy of Dewberry.
The central generator plant will hold eight, 3MW generators with Tier 2 to Tier 4 compliant exhaust emissions control. Photo courtesy of Dewberry.

Challenges

The ultimate challenge of this project is providing electrical modernization and centralized utilities on an existing large university and medical center campus, while not disrupting any operations. Design and construction faced many hurdles with COVID, multiple owners/designing firms/construction firms, material lead times, and ultimately maintaining healthcare services.

The primary project challenge has been maintaining facility operations while simultaneously providing electrical modernization and centralized utilities on an existing large university and medical center campus. Photo courtesy of Dewberry.
The primary project challenge has been maintaining facility operations while simultaneously providing electrical modernization and centralized utilities on an existing large university and medical center campus. Photo courtesy of Dewberry.

Solutions

Open communication, with regular reoccurring meetings (virtual and in-person), proactive thinking, and problem solving have helped us overcome challenges. The team effort between all the key players and decision makers helped to provide project success.