UT San Antonio Plant Rebuild

The University of Texas at San Antonio’s North Thermal Energy Plant supplies primary heating and cooling for the main campus. Built in 1973, many of its components had come to the end of their service life. The campus’ growing need for steam was higher than the plant’s two boilers could produce.

The university’s utilities master plan had suggested installation of three new 700 HP boilers at the North plant to keep up with steam production. Stanley Consultants was selected to perform a study to plan out the addition of another boiler, replacement of the two existing boilers and removal of the obsolete and failed 3.5 MW engine generator. The study resulted in a 10-year plan to rebuild and reboot the North plant to increase steam generation capacity, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Stanley Consultants then provided program management and design for the portfolio of projects. Project phases included an upgraded electrical feeder and switchgear; demolishing an engine generator to make room for the addition of Boiler No. 3 and new deaerator system; replacing the motor control centers for the chilled and condensed water pumps; replacing Boiler Nos. 1 and 2 and legacy piping replacement and finally, incoming switchgear replacement. Rebuilding a thermal energy plant while being fully operational was complicated, but the combined team successfully completed the program.