Page 30 - IEC Insights Nov-Dec19

INDUSTRIAL (ELECTRICAL CONTRACTS
UP TO $1,500,000)

IEC NATIONAL 2019 AWARDS | EXCELLENCE IN ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION

CENTRAL ELECTRIC

NEISD NUTRITION SERVICE

WAREHOUSE PROJECT

Central Electric was recognized for its work on the The Northeast Independent School District determined
NEISD Nutrition Service Warehouse project. that the existing Central Food Service Warehouse Facility
needed to be expanded and enhanced to meet their
Serving over 65,000 K – 12th grade students in one of San current and future operational needs. Central Electric was
Antonio’s fastest growing areas is no small feat for any subcontracted to provided electrical construction services
school district. As the population of students served by the including the including the design and installation of branch
Northeast Independent School District continues to grow, conduit and boxes, branch wiring, feeder conduit, feeder
the number of facilities has also expanded concurrently to wiring, distribution/gear installation, fixture installation and
over 68 campuses. While growth and the capacity to serve trim out, low voltage rough-in, sitework and demolition.
the students has kept pace on their respective campuses,
the Northeast Independent School District determined Central Electric reviewed the project plan drawings and
that the existing Central Food Service Warehouse Facility specifications, including specialized building and construction
needed to be expanded and enhanced to meet their current requirements to ensure compliance with all aspects of the
and future operational needs. Operationally speaking, installation for food service operations in sensitive work
providing the most efficient means for the District to meet areas. Since the building footprint was significantly growing,
their student’s food services needs is mission critical. Not the contract required complete replacement and upgrade
only is it important for the District to provide healthy and of the main electrical switchboard. Central Electric laid
high-quality food services twice a day, but the fact that out and designed a plan that yielded limited interruption
nearly half of its students participate in the free/reduced to the 24-hour plant which required close coordination
lunch program translates into a huge responsibility to with the City of San Antonio Development Services
plan and proactively address areas of improvement and Department, electrical engineer and Satterfield & Pontikes.
innovation. The District evaluated its food service facility
needs to determine sites that would be suitable for To ensure that all food products were kept at top quality, a
renovation and expansion to substantially increase freezer generator had to be used to keep the building in operation,
storage capacity as well as improve ingress and egress for including the freezer and refrigerator which required
over 20 large refrigeration trucks that perform deliveries continuous operation. Additionally, Central Electric was
throughout their campuses. Additionally, the opportunity only allowed four days to remove the existing switchboard,
to incorporate new technology such as security upgrade reconnect all the existing loads and connection of the new
and temperature alarms and equipment such as LED loads to the new main switchboard. Lastly, the project required
lighting and automated fast track speed doors provided careful planning and completion of the freezer addition
the District with a vision for its strategic improvement ahead of time due to the system cooling in increments on
of facilities to best serve students and campuses. a daily basis until optimal temperatures were reached.

28 Insights Magazine | November/December 2019 | www.ieci.org