Project Overview
Columbia Engineering Group provided mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering for the Washington State Penitentiary H Building Condenser Replacement project in Walla Walla, Washington. The project centers on replacing an existing rooftop-mounted condenser unit that serves multiple coolers and freezers in H Building.
Because food storage operations must remain uninterrupted during construction, the project uses a phased design approach. In addition, the team designed and sized temporary equipment to maintain cooling service while the permanent condenser unit is replaced. The work is also being delivered as a fully in-house design-build effort, with no subconsultants.
Engineering Scope of Work
This project required coordinated mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering to support both equipment replacement and continued facility operation during construction. As a result, the design addresses not only the rooftop condenser replacement itself, but also the temporary cooling measures needed to keep the building’s cooler and freezer systems in service.
Mechanical
The mechanical scope includes replacement of the existing rooftop-mounted condenser unit. At the same time, the design supports phased construction so cooling service can continue during the transition from temporary equipment to the permanent unit.
Electrical
The electrical design supports both the condenser replacement and the coordination of temporary and permanent equipment serving the cooler and freezer systems. This allows the project team to maintain service continuity throughout construction.
Structural
Structural engineering supports the rooftop-mounted condenser replacement as part of the overall design-build scope. In this way, the project can address equipment replacement with coordinated support across all three disciplines.
Temporary Cooling & Phasing
To support uninterrupted food storage operations, the project includes temporary equipment sized specifically to maintain cooling service during construction. Meanwhile, the phased design approach helps guide the replacement process while the permanent condenser unit is removed and installed.
Project Outcome
The design supports continuous cooler and freezer operation while critical rooftop equipment is replaced. By combining temporary cooling with phased construction planning, the project aligns the replacement process with the operational needs of a corrections facility.
Just as importantly, the fully in-house design-build approach allows mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering to stay closely coordinated throughout the project. That coordination supports a more streamlined replacement strategy while maintaining cooling service during construction.
What Made This Project Stand Out
Because the condenser unit serves multiple coolers and freezers, the design had to support uninterrupted food storage operations during construction.
Rather than treating the work as a simple equipment swap, the project uses a phased design approach to support construction sequencing and cooling continuity.
In addition to the permanent condenser replacement, the scope includes temporary equipment designed and sized to maintain cooling service throughout the transition.
The entire project is being performed in-house, with no subconsultants. As a result, the design-build effort stays coordinated across mechanical, electrical, and structural disciplines.