Henry Adams provided the electrical engineering design for $5M in upgrades, as well as an arc flash study. 

The Garmatz Federal Building's electrical distribution system had reached the end of its useful life and required replacement or retrofit. The GSA Region 3 contracted Henry Adams to perform design and construction administration services to upgrade the building's system.  

The intent of the project was to replace the building’s original electrical equipment with new or in the case of the medium voltage switchgear to retrofit the existing equipment with new components in the existing gear. This equipment replacement included six sections of 480Y/277V switchgear, approximately 180 electrical panels, 20 dry-type transformers, seven Motor Control Centers (MCC), spot network protectors, busway, and numerous feeders. The switchgear, panelboards, and dry-type transformers were replaced nearly in-kind with minor variations to improve the maintainability and operability of the electrical system (such as addition of main breakers to all switchgear sections and panelboards). The MCCs were replaced with distribution panelboards and standalone combination starter/disconnect switches. Additionally, six spot network protectors and six lengths of busway were replaced while retaining the existing spot network transformers. A complete turn-key power monitoring & control system capable of gathering and displaying data about the medium voltage switchgear, low voltage switchgear, and network protectors was provided to provide a tool for building maintenance personnel to better maintain and monitor the electrical system. Each monitored device is animated in real-time to depict the most current operational status of the system.                        

The design also included the removal of three existing medium voltage air circuit breakers (one breaker per incoming feeder) and replace (retro-fit) with medium voltage vacuum circuit breakers, as well installation of multifunction relays, miscellaneous relays, PTs, CTs, and other necessary components in the medium voltage switchgear lineup to report information back to the power monitoring and control system installed as part of this project. Electrical overcurrent device studies including a coordination, arc flash, and short circuit studies were performed. 

• An arc flash study was completed.
• A coordination study was completed.
• A short circuit study was completed.

Additional Information:

Location	Baltimore, MD
Construction Value	$5,000,000
Owner	General Services Administration
Architect	Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors

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