Construction Without Disruption: Keeping Your Facility Online During a Major Electrical System Upgrade and Facility Modernization

IDEA2026 Poster 12

Presentation Description: Upgrading existing facilities requires innovative, cost-effective solutions and a realistic construction staging plan to keep critical infrastructure operational. Extended shutdowns are rarely acceptable, so staging must minimize vulnerabilities and coordinate necessary outages. Temporary power systems, such as portable generators, may maintain redundancy during construction. Collaborative workshops with vendors, owners, and the construction team ensure alignment and smooth execution. This presentation highlights the Rockville Water Treatment Plant Electrical Distribution Systems Upgrades and Main Building Renovation project and the approaches used to minimize disruptions during the project.

Case Study: The project included the renovation of the three-story building (built in 1958), updating the second floor (with offices, a new laboratory, restrooms, and staff break area), and conversion of the entire third floor into an electrical room. It also included upgrading the entire outdated electrical system with a new redundant double-ended system incorporating techniques and features to enhance the resiliency, reliability, and maintainability of the system. In collaboration and brainstorming with the City, the critical success factors of this project were discussed early during the design phase and a detailed construction sequence plan was generated that minimized facility shutdowns.

Topic: System Development, Expansion, and Modernization