UCSD embarked on a goal to become one of the nation’s greenest college campuses! The ECUP is on track to become the world’s largest, most diversified portfolio of Thermal Energy Storage and Electric Energy Storage systems. As a part of this sustainable goal, UCSD approved the ECUP Expansion Project and design commenced in 2011 with its completion of a fully operational CUP in 2015.
Owen teamed with the Design Architect, ZGF Architects LLP, and served as the Executive Architect and Engineer on the UCSD ECUP Expansion Project. This ECUP expansion project increased chilled water and emergency power capacity on the East Campus through an addition to the existing utility plant and extended utility distribution systems to serve the new Clinical and Translational Research Institute (CTRI) building.
Constructed in 2001, the existing ECUP was comprised of two 900-ton centrifugal chillers, condenser and chilled water pumps, cooling towers to the east of the single-story plant building, two 1,000 kW diesel engine generators, two 10,000-gallon underground fuel tanks, and an adjacent 12-kV electrical substation (located across Voigt Drive). A new 1,200-ton electrical chiller, two new cooling tower cells, and pumps were added, as well as a 3,600 square foot building expansion.
Henrikson Owen’s scope of services entailed architecture, MEP engineering, structural engineering, civil engineering, landscape architecture, cost estimating, and LEED consulting services. Professionals performed comprehensive site studies and all phases of design, construction documents, and specifications relating to all areas of technical scope. The project has involved multiple phases, ranging from feasibility assessments and preliminary planning, through schematic design/design development, to bidding and award assistance, construction assistance, and post-occupancy.