Project Overview
Columbia Engineering Group provided mechanical and electrical engineering for the Eastern State Hospital FSU Chiller Replacement project in Medical Lake, Washington. The hospital campus encompasses approximately 800,000 square feet and supports critical healthcare operations.
Two of the three chillers serving several wards had failed and required replacement. Because cooling was essential to ongoing facility operations, CEG addressed both the immediate equipment failure and the conditions affecting long-term system performance.
Finding the Cause of Premature Chiller Failure
One failed chiller was only halfway through its expected service life. Therefore, simply replacing the equipment would not have addressed the underlying problem.
CEG evaluated the installation and found that nearby solid yard walls restricted airflow around the chillers. The team then performed airflow analysis to determine how the enclosure could be improved.
Engineering Scope of Work
CEG combined emergency cooling support, equipment replacement, airflow improvements, and future contingency planning within one coordinated design.
Chiller Replacement
The mechanical scope replaced two failed chillers serving several hospital wards. The design restored permanent cooling capacity while addressing the cause of premature equipment failure.
Airflow Analysis
CEG evaluated airflow around the existing equipment and identified restricted ventilation caused by nearby solid walls. The analysis guided changes to improve operating conditions for the new chillers.
Enclosure Modifications
Select sections of the solid yard wall were removed and replaced with cyclone fencing. This increased ventilation around the equipment and reduced the risk of repeating the same airflow problem.
Temporary Cooling Provisions
The design included permanent connections for temporary chillers. As a result, the hospital can respond more efficiently if future equipment failures require emergency cooling.
Temporary Chiller & Vendor Coordination
CEG coordinated with local vendors to install temporary chillers while the permanent equipment was manufactured and delivered. This approach helped maintain cooling service during the replacement process.
Project Outcome
The project restored critical cooling service while correcting an installation condition that contributed to premature equipment failure. Instead of treating the work as a simple equipment replacement, CEG combined system analysis with targeted site modifications.
The new permanent connections for temporary chillers also strengthened future emergency readiness. As a result, Eastern State Hospital has a more practical path for maintaining cooling service if equipment fails again.
What Made This Project Stand Out
CEG identified restricted airflow as a contributing factor instead of limiting the project to equipment replacement.
Temporary chillers helped maintain cooling while replacement equipment was being manufactured and delivered.
Targeted wall modifications increased ventilation around the chillers and improved operating conditions for the replacement equipment.
Permanent temporary-chiller connections give the hospital a faster response option if another cooling failure occurs.