Gateway Substation

3 Steel Frame Types
NESC + ASCE Design Standards
Structural Engineering & Steel Design

Project Overview

Columbia Engineering Group provided structural engineering and steel design for Gateway Substation in Richland, Washington. The project included structural systems for a new electrical substation serving the City of Richland.

The project included modular tapered steel structures designed to support electrical equipment and transmission components. CEG developed A-frames, H-frames, and T-frames as part of the substation structural system.

Structural Design for Utility Infrastructure

Substation structures must resist several types of loading while supporting critical electrical equipment. Therefore, CEG performed structural analysis for wind, seismic, and equipment loads.

The project also required practical fabrication and installation details. As a result, the structural design accounted for connection detailing, base plates, galvanizing, and field installation.

Structural Engineering Scope of Work

CEG provided structural analysis, steel design, connection detailing, and fabrication support for the new electrical substation.

Modular Steel Structures

CEG designed modular tapered steel A-frames, H-frames, and T-frames for the new electrical substation.

Structural Load Analysis

CEG analyzed wind, seismic, and equipment loads in accordance with applicable NESC and ASCE standards.

Connection & Base Plate Design

The structural scope included connection detailing and base plate design for the modular steel support structures.

Fabrication & Installation Support

CEG coordinated the structural details to support efficient fabrication, galvanizing, and field installation.

Project Outcome

Gateway Substation received structural support systems designed for the long-term demands of electrical utility infrastructure serving the City of Richland.

CEG combined standards-based structural analysis with fabrication-ready detailing. As a result, the design supports constructability, efficient installation, durability, and long-term substation performance.

What Made This Project Stand Out

Three Modular Steel Frame Types

A-frames, H-frames, and T-frames support electrical equipment and transmission components throughout the substation.

NESC and ASCE Load Analysis

CEG evaluated wind, seismic, and equipment loads using applicable utility and structural design standards.

Fabrication-Ready Structural Detailing

Connection and base plate designs support efficient fabrication, galvanizing, and field installation.

Designed for Long-Term Utility Service

The structural package was coordinated for constructability, durability, and long-term performance of the substation infrastructure.

Swire Coca-Cola Power System Study

52-Page Study Report
3 Core Study Analyses
SKM Detailed System Model

Project Overview

Columbia Engineering Group provided electrical engineering for the Swire Coca-Cola Spokane Distribution Center Expansion Electrical Power System Study in Spokane, Washington. Another engineering firm designed the power distribution system, while CEG completed the detailed system analysis.

The study evaluated fault current, arc flash incident energy, and protective device coordination. CEG also developed a detailed SKM model using the actual equipment and system configuration for the expansion.

The final analysis gave the project team a clearer understanding of electrical system performance and identified protective device changes for consideration.

Project Challenge and Approach

Because CEG did not design the original distribution system, accurate project information was essential. The study also had to account for both existing and proposed electrical equipment.

CEG coordinated with the contractor, utility company, and equipment vendor to confirm system details. This information allowed the SKM model to reflect the actual breakers, fuses, transformers, generators, conductors, raceways, and other major components.

Electrical Power System Study Scope

CEG evaluated system performance through three core analyses supported by detailed equipment modeling and multiple operating scenarios.

Fault Current Analysis

CEG calculated available fault current and compared the results with the interrupting ratings of proposed and existing equipment. This review helped identify equipment conditions that required further evaluation.

Arc Flash Analysis

The study evaluated arc flash incident energy throughout the electrical system. CEG also developed arc flash labels based on the completed analysis.

Protective Device Coordination

CEG developed selectively coordinated time-current curves and evaluated equipment damage curves. The study also included recommended settings for protective devices.

Detailed SKM Modeling

The model included project-specific breakers, fuses, switchboards, panelboards, automatic transfer switches, generators, transformers, motor contributions, conductors, and raceways.

Scenario Analysis & Reporting

CEG evaluated multiple system scenarios and documented the findings in a 52-page report. The report included study results, recommended protective device changes, and the analysis supporting those recommendations.

Project Outcome

The completed study provided a detailed view of fault current levels, arc flash conditions, and protective device coordination for the Spokane distribution center expansion.

Because the analysis was based on a project-specific SKM model, the findings reflected the actual proposed and existing system configuration. Coordination with the contractor, utility, and equipment vendor further supported the accuracy of the model.

The final report also identified recommended protective device changes and documented the engineering analysis behind them. This gave the project team practical information to support electrical system decisions for the expansion.

What Made This Project Stand Out

Project-Specific SKM Modeling

The study modeled the actual electrical equipment and system configuration rather than relying on general assumptions.

Three-Part Electrical Analysis

Fault current, arc flash, and protective device coordination were evaluated together for a more complete view of system performance.

Actionable Study Recommendations

The 52-page report identified protective device changes and included the engineering analysis supporting those recommendations.

Multi-Party Technical Coordination

CEG worked with the contractor, utility company, and equipment vendor to verify system information and strengthen model accuracy.

Yakima Valley School Campus Generator Replacement

141,000 Square Foot Facility
3 Generators Replaced
8 Automatic Transfer Switches

Project Overview

Columbia Engineering Group provided electrical and mechanical engineering for the Yakima Valley School Campus Generator Replacement project in Selah, Washington. The 141,000 square foot nursing facility relies on emergency power systems to support critical operations across multiple cottage clusters.

The campus originally relied on four aging diesel generators. After one unit failed, it was replaced through an emergency project. An emergency chiller was also added so critical cooling could operate on generator power.

Phase 2 replaced the remaining three generators and modernized the supporting electrical infrastructure. The work improved backup power reliability while bringing the essential electrical system into alignment with current code requirements.

Critical Power for an Active Nursing Facility

Reliable emergency power is especially important in a healthcare environment. Therefore, the project had to support more than basic building loads during an outage.

CEG reconfigured the essential electrical system into its required branches and transferred additional loads to generator power. HVAC equipment and fire alarm connections were also integrated so critical facility systems could remain supported during power interruptions.

Engineering Scope of Work

CEG coordinated generator replacement, electrical distribution upgrades, essential system reconfiguration, and mechanical load integration across the campus.

Generator Replacement

Phase 2 replaced three aging diesel generators. The new equipment included one 500kW generator and two 100kW generators to support campus emergency power needs.

Transfer & Distribution Equipment

The upgrade included eight automatic transfer switches, three manual transfer switches, five panelboards, and a new switchboard. Together, this equipment improved emergency power distribution across the facility.

Essential Electrical System

CEG separated the essential electrical system into its required branches and updated the configuration to meet current code. Several loads were also moved from normal power to generator-backed service.

HVAC & Emergency Cooling

HVAC loads were added to the emergency power system to support facility operations during outages. The earlier emergency phase also added a chiller that could operate on generator power.

System Coordination & Reliability

CEG coordinated multiple load transfers, fire alarm connections, generator-backed HVAC, and electrical distribution changes as one integrated system. The design focused on reliable operation, code compliance, and flexibility for future facility needs.

Project Outcome

The Yakima Valley School generator replacement modernized critical backup power infrastructure for an active nursing facility. Three aging generators were replaced while major distribution and transfer equipment was upgraded across the campus.

The project also expanded what the emergency power system could support. HVAC, cooling, fire alarm connections, and other critical loads were integrated into the revised configuration.

As a result, the facility gained a more reliable and code-compliant emergency power system designed to support continuity of operations during outages.

What Made This Project Stand Out

Critical Healthcare Backup Power

The upgraded system supports emergency power needs for an active nursing facility and its campus operations.

Essential System Reconfiguration

CEG separated the essential electrical system into required branches and brought the configuration up to current code.

Emergency Cooling Integration

Generator-backed HVAC and emergency cooling increased the facility’s ability to maintain critical environmental conditions during outages.

Large-Scale Electrical Modernization

New generators, transfer switches, panelboards, switchgear, and load changes were coordinated as one campus-wide emergency power upgrade.