Energy Center Boiler Plant Modernization

Project overview

Sage Engineering Associates, LLP provided mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and controls engineering services for the modernization of the central energy plant at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, New York. The project included replacement of the existing boiler plant deaerator tank, steam condensate surge tank, boiler feedwater pumps, and associated piping, controls, instrumentation, and support systems serving the hospital campus central utility plant.

The project also included major boiler plant controls modernization consisting of replacement of the boiler plant master control system, boiler operating controls, SCADA integration, building controls monitoring, fuel oil heater controls, and boiler room makeup air handling unit controls. The upgraded controls infrastructure improved boiler sequencing, plant monitoring, operational reliability, alarm management, energy efficiency, and long-term maintainability of the facility’s critical steam infrastructure.

Sage Engineering designed the project to maintain continuous operation of the active hospital steam plant during all phases of construction. The work required detailed coordination, phased implementation, temporary operations planning, and shutdown sequencing to minimize disruption to the healthcare campus while maintaining uninterrupted steam service to the medical center.

The project included upgrades to steam and condensate piping systems, pump systems, instrumentation, seismic restraint systems, insulation systems, and plant equipment identification. The design also incorporated commissioning, startup support, testing and balancing, operator training, and coordination with facility operations staff to support long-term plant reliability and maintainability.