Overview/Scope of Project
The Campus Electrical Distribution Modernization Project is a comprehensive, five-phase initiative designed to modernize the university’s power infrastructure and enhance long-term reliability. The project replaces the existing centralized switchgear with a decentralized, redundant configuration featuring independent switchgear facilities on the North and South sides of the campus. This strategic investment significantly reduces localized risks and increases electrical capacity campus-wide. The project is currently progressing through its final stages:
- Completed & Closing: One phase is fully closed out, while a second phase is currently in the close-out transition.
- Active Construction: Two phases are in active construction, focused on the complex coordination of building outages and infrastructure integration.
- Pending: The final phase has been designed and is currently awaiting funding approval.
This multidisciplinary effort involves the installation of new campus-wide infrastructure, building substation upgrades, and the integration of dual-side switchgear facilities. A core priority of the execution is the management and careful coordination of the power systems to ensure minimal disruption to campus operations and the surrounding Baltimore community. Upon completion, the modernization will provide a state of the art, resilient electrical grid capable of supporting the university's evolving mission-critical needs.
Did You Know
Through the Wire
- The South Substation project includes 342,000 linear feet (64.77 miles) of new underground cable. That’s enough to wire a path from the UMB campus directly to Harpers Ferry!
Lights Please
- Our current North Station generates 24 megawatts of power. To replace that with rodent energy, you’d need 480 million mice running on wheels. (The cheese bill alone would ruin our budget!)
Power
- To safely hook up this massive new modernization project, our teams have meticulously planned and executed more than 70 full-building power outages—keeping the campus safe, informed, and moving forward.