Mitsubishi Expands As Turbines Wheel Faster

With an extensive history of providing high-quality parts and services to the North American market, it became critical for Mitsubishi Power Systems America (MPSA) to expand their facilities. MPSA needed to increase production of key gas turbine parts, provide complete steam turbine services and assemble advanced, fuel-efficient gas turbines. In 2009, Mitsubishi, in association with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), formally announced its plans to build a new plant on the property known as the Mega Site – a 1,500 industrial site located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and I-16 near Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, the Port of Savannah and with access to rail.

Hussey Gay Bell was selected to provide civil/site work design for the joint venture design/build team of H.J. High Construction/Batson-Cook and The Austin Company.

The design-build project consisted of more than 440,000 SF including Manufacturing Building Bays 1 through 5, Office Building, Turbine Balancing/Testing Facility, Office/Conference Center, Guardhouse, Kitchen and Maintenance Building.

From 2009-2012, Hussey Gay Bell was involved in the civil/site work design for all project phases; specific phased scope of work included:

• Phase I: design and construction of the manufacturing and office building facility.
• Phase II: design and construction of additions to the manufacturing bay areas.
• Phase III: design and construction of the Balance Bunker facility to house an 8,000 horsepower electric motor to turn the rotors during balancing.
• Phase IV: design and construction of a ½ mile rail spur and more additions to the manufacturing bays.
• Phase V: design and construction of the last manufacturing bay and ancillary support facilities.

As an integral part of the design-build team, Hussey Gay Bell worked closely with the City of Pooler, City of Savannah, SEDA and Georgia Ports Authority to maintain the tight schedule assigned to this high-profile industrial project. Our participation began almost six months prior to the team selection, and as a result, we were able to provide valuable input and insight that contributed to successful planning, budgeting and permitting during the early stages of the project. We continued to be active on the site during construction, providing periodic site work inspection services.

[Images courtesy of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems.]