AIE is providing consulting engineering services for this Design-Build project, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection engineering; structural engineering; civil/site engineering; and construction phase support services. This project provides upgrades to the existing 5kV distribution system, and its related 208V distribution, at the RFK (formerly Triborough Bridge) facility located on Randall’s Island.  The project provides a resilient and redundant 5kV and 208V power distribution system for the facility. In addition, the existing boilers and related fuel oil tanks at the Robert Moses Building will be replaced with the new above-ground on-grade systems.

The project replaces substations located at the Queens (QMR) and Bronx (BMR) bridge connections as well as the Bronx Service Building (BSB), Manhattan Service Building (MSB), and Robert Moses Building (RMB).  Approximately two miles of new 5kV cable is installed in existing and new duct banks and bridge-mounted conduits to connect these five substations to the existing central distribution 5kV switchgear located in the PCR facility. Each new substation is constructed offsite in a premanufactured metal building and factory tested prior to site delivery. Each new installation is adjacent to the existing substation to permit minimal interruption of services during installation and phased cutover of 5kV and 208V services. All the new equipment is designed to be connected to the existing Randall’s Island SCADA and security systems via the existing fiber optic backbone. New SCADA and security cabinets, fiber optic I/O and distribution panels are part of each substation. These connect to the existing fiber optic backbone and the new equipment will be integrated into the existing SCADA and security systems.

The QMR and BMR substations connect to the existing ConEdison 208V utility services where step-up to 5kV transformers provide alternate power via 5kV cabling to the other sites. New local 208V distribution is provided in each of these two substations. The BSB and MSB substations provide a 5kV interconnect as an alternate source. These substations include 5kV switches and stepdown to 208V transformers as well as local 208V distribution. At the MSB site, a new 200kW emergency diesel generator with a fuel tank base and automatic transfer switch is interfaced to the existing 208V distribution. The RMB substation replaces an obsolete interior electrical unit substation with a new above-grade exterior substation containing 5kV arc flash resistant switchboard, stepdown transformer, and new 208V switchboard. A new 400kW emergency diesel generator with a fuel tank base and automatic transfer switch is interfaced with the new substation 208V distribution. In addition, a new RMB above grade prefabricated boiler room replaces the existing interior basement level equipment. New buried steam and condensate piping is specified to connect the new boiler room to the existing RMB steam heating system. A new above-ground UL142 compliant fuel tank, leak detection systems, and related piping replaces the existing in-ground heating oil fuel tanks. The SCADA and security control centers are updated to show the new equipment and its status.