July 2019
The Walsh Group completes Seattle’s one-of-a-kind substation
SEATTLE – The Walsh Group, one of the nation’s largest contractors, joined the City of Seattle and Seattle City Light officials to unveil the new Denny Substation, a state-of-the-art electrical substation and underground 13kV electrical network. The project is Seattle’s first new substation in over 30 years and will provide power for the South Lake Union neighborhood, one of the most vibrant and fastest growing areas of Seattle, and is a long-term asset supporting City Light’s entire system.
The substation’s design is unique among its peers. After extensive engagement with community stakeholders, the design team led by Power Engineers and City Light created a true public space anchored by the substation. Meeting areas, interactive sculptures, a dog park and two major art installations heighten the modern design of the building, enclosed with an Architecturally Exposed Steel Structure (AESS) system supporting for the metal panel and glazing façade. A quarter mile of pedestrian walkways surrounds the substation and provide unique views of the surrounding urban landscape.
The Denny Substation represents a commitment to Seattle’s future growth and a recognition of its status as one of the nation’s top 21st century boom towns. “This substation will ensure reliable power that allows us to keep pace with Seattle’s current and future electrical needs,” said Debra Smith, City Light General Manager and CEO. “Seattle City Light worked with the community to design the Denny Substation to fit the neighborhood’s character, provide needed community amenities and serve as a model for environmental sustainability. I am proud of how Seattle has come together to make this critical investment and create what some are calling the ‘world’s coolest substation.’”
Constructed with nearly 125 tons of steel, the 33,500-square foot substation is designed to handle 50 Megavolt Amps with room for expansion—vital for this area of the rapidly growing city. One-and-a-half miles of new underground high-pressure, fluid-filled (HPFF) lines will reduce the electromagnetic field (EMF) output of the substation to levels equivalent to those seen in the area before construction.
“Walsh is honored and proud to be part of an iconic project that has forever changed the landscape of Seattle. This project is an amazing representation of architectural design and its role in the changing urban development of Seattle’s South Lake Union,” said Caroline Vaandrager, Project Manager.
Seattle tops the list of fastest growing cities of the decade, and the South Lake Union neighborhood and the Denny Triangle subarea are the epicenter of a significant portion of that growth. The area is home to tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Amazon’s $1B corporate headquarters, in addition to a thriving dining and nightlife district.