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USPS Switchgear Upgrade Project
San Diego, Calif.
The United States Post Office Switchgear Upgrade project is a $2M contract in San Diego for which Stronghold Engineering, Inc. is serving as the electrical subcontractor to Parsons Construction. Our crew consists of 15 certified journeyman electricians and ABC-trained apprentices.
The project scope calls for replacing three 15KV, double-ended substations that feed power to the entire postal facility. The construction includes demolition of the existing substations with coordination of power outages with the local serving utility, SDG&E. Stronghold is also installing a large custom-built cable bussing system for the 480V distribution side of the substations to pick up the existing loads in the building from the new substations.
Custom-made sheet metal cans have eliminated the need for bending 90 degree 4-inch conduit, making the cable installation easier to manage with good accessibility for any future connections that may be needed.
Stronghold Engineering, Inc. is scheduled to complete this project during the winter of 2006.
"We commend you and your team on the excellent performance on the Midway Processing and Distribution Facility (P&DF) Switchgear Upgrades Project constructed under the referenced contract and completed on March 20, 2007. Your team's cooperation and execution of the project was very timely and professional. We look forward to working again with your Company in the future." -Alex A. Krill, Sr. Project Manager, USPS Program, PARSONS
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Airfield Lighting Systems Repair
Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif.
Stronghold Engineering, Inc. is serving as the prime contractor for the $9.7M Airfield Lighting Systems Repair project, located at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif. The project calls for upgrading the airfield electrical vaults and runway lighting systems for three runways.
Scope of work includes: install new runway edge lights and center line lights, asphalt patching and concrete patch; cable, emergency generator / ATS, light fixtures, grounding and switchgear; demolition, excavation and backfill; distance marker relocation; underground conduit; regulators, manholes and pull boxes; saw cutting and removal; and all associated testing.
During a recent seven-day period, armed with a 12-man crew, Stronghold was able to trench 4,500 lineal feet of duct bank through 2,500 feet of 14-inch concrete apron. Stronghold's team also set pull boxes, ran conduit, and encased and patched concrete, turnkey.
"Our client is very impressed with the work your team is doing. ... A couple of comments in their email today were 'exceptional work, great job!'" -Paula Conley, Contract Specialist
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Naval Coastal Warfare Main Substation
Imperial Beach, Calif.
This is a design build project that Stronghold completed for the Navy at the 13th Street Naval Coastal Warfare Base in Imperial Beach, Calif. As the prime contractor for seven prefab steel buildings, one of the critical challenges Stronghold faced was installation of a new electrical substation. The substation consisted of 4160V primary power to 120/280V user power to the new buildings.
Our in-house electrical team connected to this existing 4160V overhead line for the source power connection to the new substation. Part of the design process required a study of the existing circuit capacity for the fuse sizing. The circuit Stronghold installed traveled 1,000 ft underground to the new substation.
Stronghold also poured the concrete pad, while our certified line crew made the final terminations and performed tests on this 500KVA transformer that steps the voltage down from 4160V to 120/280V.
The final product gave the owner the capability of adding two large future buildings, for which underground provisions were made. This was a unique project where the existing service voltage was unknown by the owner, and upfront research and field analysis were key to completing the design to ensure that the project would be finished within the time allotted on the schedule. Stronghold Engineering, Inc. has since completed the second phase addition of a Headquarters Building and Rifle Simulator Building attached to this service. Both phases were completed on time.
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Runway 26R Reconstruction
Ontario International Airport, Calif.
Stronghold Engineering, Inc. serves as the subcontractor for this $7.5M project to reconstruct Runway 26R at Ontario International Airport, Calif. The contract calls for extensive taxiway improvements for the Airbus 380.
Installation of a new 12,000' runway is now complete, including centerline and edge lights. This runway will serve as a backup for Airbus 380 traffic at Los Angeles International Airport: The Airbus 380 will be used by United Parcel Service and is also expected to carry passengers from overseas.
The north lighting vault, which controls all lighting throughout the airport, is now operational. More than 2000 lights, 250,000' of wiring and 100,000' of conduit will be installed; in addition, more than 10,000 sq. ft. of existing asphalt will be removed and replaced, along with signs and other facilities.
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Lincoln, Kennedy & Eisenhower Elementary School Modernizations
Palm Desert & Indio, Calif.
This $4.5M contract called for modernization of the electrical systems at three Desert Sands Unified School District elementary schools, located within a 10-mile radius in Palm Desert and Indio, Calif.
At the project's peak, a total of 27 personnel were engaged: Managed and directed by the overall Project Superintendent, each site had its own foreman, five journeyman electricians, and three apprentice electricians.
The scope of work entailed remodeling three schools simultaneously in three phases of construction. This included installation of completely new fire alarm system components while maintaining the existing system; providing new underground conduit for electrical, fire alarm, security, telecommunications and CATV systems; interfacing with local utilities for new electrical, telecommunications and CATV services; installation of new lighting package, including controls; and installation of new 2000A substations, one at each school. Type FCI 7200 fire alarm system products were used for all three elementary school sites and included DSA inspection and commissioning.
Despite the difficulties faced in performing tasks on occupied, in-use facilities, Stronghold's precautionary measures and careful consideration of users ensured that the project was completed on schedule.
"It has been a pleasure working with your staff ... Performing a major modernization/renovation while keeping an elementary school up and running during the reconstruction is a huge challenge, but three schools simultaneously is a true test of performance and endurance. ... We also appreciated the quick responses from your office staff in addressing the many revisions generated by such a construction project. They were most courteous and professional." - Larry Flickinger, Project Manager, Director of Development and Operations, Ledesma & Meyer Construction Co., Inc.
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San Jacinto High School Relocatable Classroom
San Jacinto, Calif.
This $1.5M contract called for installation of 2,500' of duct bank conduit for both electrical and telecommunications service. With only eight weeks to complete the project and facing a demanding procurement schedule for switchgear, Stronghold coordinated both personnel and physical resources to help meet the tight schedule.
One of the many challenges Stronghold overcame was finding a way to make the final connection to the main switchboard. The expected bussway was not available within the project's timeframe, so Stronghold's onsite crew of 20 came up with a solution: installing 4-inch GRC sleeves between the old and new gear, and DLO cabling whose high ampacity rating meets the requirements of the new main switchboard. This code-compliant, on-the-fly remedy was key to ensuring that the classrooms were fully energized before school resumed.
"The entire project team worked Saturdays and many late days to ensure that the move into these classrooms went as scheduled even though the timeline was extremely short. A total of 34 classrooms were set and installed in less than 70 days. ... Stronghold Engineering provided the appropriate manpower and maintained quality work to successfully complete this job." -Joseph R. Buske, Assist Superintendent of Business Facilities
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