Thinking Out Loud: A non-stop electrical service for VA Hospital in San Juan.

A Non-stop electrical service for VA Hospital in San Juan.

When Hurricane María swept the whole territory of Puerto Rico, the evident unstable and fragile electrical system problem came to the surface. Everybody knew this sad truth, but the government ignored it like nothing was happening.

That is why VA Medical Center (VAMC) decided that to continue to provide their vital health services non-stop, they needed to take the matter into their hands. That is how the largest Non-Recurring Maintenance Contract Project for the VA Caribbean Healthcare System in San Juan came alive. 

The basis of design (BOD) comes from an engineering study document prepared by the firm Mendez, Brunner, Badillo Architects, and Engineers in a previous assignment from VA. The analysis was a feasibility study for an underground service cable to the VAMC in San Juan, in coordination with the AEE, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico utility company. San Diego Project Management, PSC and Mendez, Brunner, Badillo Architect, along with other firms, work together in the design construction phase to include environmental and construction permits with the municipal and state authorities and other Federal Agencies. The design is 100% complete.

The project consists of a design for an underground 38 KV electrical feeder from the Hato Rey Transmission Center (HRTC) to the VA Medical Center (VAMC) new 15 MW power substation and then to Centro Médico de San Juan (CMSJ) sectionalizer. The design will consist of a new 2000 mcm underground line from HRTC to Piñero Avenue utilizing the existing duct bank and manholes previously constructed by PREPA and continuing this line to the new VA power substation from there to the CMSJ sectionalizer. The design shall include the connection of the feeder to the HRTC, to the VA power substation, and the CMSJ sectionalizer. Work shall include but not be limited to feeders, ducts and manholes, switches, and other appurtenances. It will be the first underground electrical distribution project to service a public institution in Puerto Rico. San Diego Project Management, PSC is working on an untypical VA project since all the work is off-campus. In this case, our company’s goal is to provide redundant, reliable energy to the Hospital no matter the circumstances.

Cost of Design: $2M Cost of Construction: $10.9