The project requires J.C. Higgins to install 6,600 tons of cooling capacity, 8.5 miles of piping, and 12 custom-built air-handling units, totaling more than 1.1 million cfm.

"The site has a tremendous amount of existing utilities that serve a variety of buildings, requiring careful coordination," noted Ronald Ledoux, president of J.C. Higgins. "To ensure there is no disruption of services, we have developed an elaborate plan that involves intricately phased construction and detailed transportation scheduling for the rigging and HVAC equipment. The result is an effective construction process on the heavily congested worksite.

"Additionally, we have had to use a process called hot tapping, installing mechanical piping into existing chilled-water lines that remain in operation," he explained. "This difficult and complicated procedure required x-ray welding, careful inspection, and strict controls to ensure successful and safe execution."

The architect for the $350 million project is Tsoi-Kobus and Associates. The mechanical-electrical-piping engineer is A.H.A. Associates. Construction is scheduled for completion in November of 2007.

Founded in 1924, J.C. Higgins Corp. offers services including HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, energy management, and power plant and process piping. The company services major general contractors, construction managers, commercial developers, hotels, universities, financial institutions, hospitals and health care facilities, research labs, high-tech and heavy industries, and some public utilities throughout New England.

For more information, visit www.jchigginscorp.com.

Publication date: 08/21/2006