About the Client/Project: The Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) provides wastewater services for 2.5 million people in Orange County. OCSD wanted to build a new Sludge Dewater building and small electrical building to accommodate expected community growth which would affect Plant #2. Platt/Whitelaw Architects worked as a subconsultant to Brown & Caldwell to design two new buildings: A 25,000 sf centrifuge building, and a 2,600 sf electrical building.
Project Challenge: The Architectectural style was designed to match the existing architecture. The plant was required to remain operational while improvements were in construction. In addition, for longevity, the project needed to be durable and low maintenance.
Architectural Solution: The sludge dewater facility is two stories and reflects the general architectural style of the other structures at Plant No. 2. The MCCs, VFDs, and process control panels are also located in the Electrical/Control room within the new Sludge Dewatering Building. The Project included a utility tunnel connecting the Harris Tunnel to the new Sludge Dewatering Building. Platt/Whitelaw architects provided building design and documentation (drawings and specifications), for stairs; doors, windows, skylights and louvers; rest room layout; sample room layout; work benches; guard rails; and access hatches. Platt/Whitelaw also designed a small electrical structure to house new electrical equipment. Specs included: interior and exterior materials, colors and finishes; roofing; doors, windows, skylights and louvers. PWA also provided construction administration and record documents.
Final Result: Opening date was March 2019.
Photos courtesy of Shimmick Construction.