The central heating and cooling plant at Walter Reed National Military Medical center has been operating with emergency backup electric generators from the 1970’s. SDC was tasked with the project management for the replacement of the aged generators.

The generators were located on the mezzanine level in building 16. Cooling and combustion air is drawn in from louvers adjacent to the two generators, engine exhaust and cooling radiator air is routed through the roof. Engine exhaust is an 8” pipe routed through a silencer and roof above.

To remove the existing generators, wall louvers had to be removed on the third floor. The existing generators were lowered to the ground and new units were craned back through the same opening. SDC coordinated all utility outages, road closures, and crane inspections for the lift operations.

SDC was also responsible for coordinating system startup, loadbank testing, and owner training.