MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
Bigger and better
Austin Utilities adapting to life at new, central facility By Jason Schoonover
jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com
A
Public tours
2-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Tours of 10-15 will be led through the facility.
From a gas and water standpoint, Jorgenson said the new facility offer more efficient and smoother operations for accessing
materials, as they’re now at one site versus the three locations from before. Along with a new site for welding operations, the
Todd Park 14th Street Northeast
ustin Utilities is primed and ready for a bright, efficient future at its new home. The public utility has been in the new Austin Utilities Service and Operations Center, 1908 14th St. NE, since this summer, and it’s proving to be a plus for its employees thus far. Not only does the site bring all its employees to one site, but it also adds a good deal of efficiencies for employees. “A lot of good things went into the design of the building,” said Todd Jorgenson, the gas and water operations director who served as project manager for construction. The public will have a chance to check out the 105,000-square-foot building at the 23-acre Energy Park site near Todd Park from 2 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, when Austin Utilities employees will lead groups of 10 to 15 on tours of the building. The need for a new facility was a great one, according General Manager Mark Nibaur, as utilities studied the cost-effectiveness of building a new facility versus remodeling and upgrading its old facilities. Their decision was to build a new$17 to $18 million facility. The building brings a number of ways to consolidate office operations,
including customer service, staff operations and administrative duties, from the seven buildings utilities workers use. “Just being close proximity with other departments saves a lot of time, a lot of phone calls when we can just meet face to face,” Jorgenson said.
Interstate 90
utilities mechanic also has a much more room and more user-friendly equipment with a small lift for some trucks and a larger lift for utilities’ biggest trucks/ “He’s got a well designed and efficient space for his use,” Jorgenson said. There’s also more room for trucks and equipment.
Now, the utilities dispatch center has a convenient space with gas on one side and electric on the other, which helps them coordinate projects and respond to emergencies in a coordinated manner. The warehouse and garage also feature in-floor heat generated by a geothermal field. And Austin Utilities didn’t have enough space to store essential supplies like water and gas pipes indoors, according to Nibaur. The new building solves several safety and regulation issues for the utilities company, and it is more energy efficient than the old site. Utilities officials estimate the company could save $2.5 million over the next 10 years with a new facility. The building also offers a disaster-proof utilities operations, which Nibaur said was an important improvement. Doors and windows near the administration section have coiling metal shutters that can be rolled down in the event of a severe storm or tornado. The shutters are supposed to withstand an F-2 tornado. It will also protect the generator, in which case after a storm, the power can still be accessed and turned on. In addition, there are conference rooms for meetings and trainings, locker rooms for men and women, a water testing lab, records room and welding shop.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
Austin Utilities
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Building for the community By Tom Sherman
The public can get a look at the Austin Utilities Service and Operations Center, 1908 14th St. NE, during an open house with tours for 10 to 15 people from 2 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6. F rom 2 to 7 p.m. on Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com Wednesday, Oct. 5, Austin Utilities will celebrate the opening of our new Service and Operation Center with an Open House that includes full tours of the new building. We’ll also be unveiling a plaque dedicating the building to the community of Austin and by extension our rate payers. As current President of the Austin Utilities Board, I’m excited to be a part of this event. It’s the culmination of many years of planning that started in 2013. At that time, we were presented with a proposal to update facilities or construct a new building. The next few months were spent making face to face services, walk through the order to enhance the quali- For more information about website at www.austinutilicontact with over 350 people cility we are in today. The new building opened new parking garage which ty of life in our community. Austin Utilities visit their ties.com. through meetings with key to the public on Ju- is large enough to accommocustomers, comly 25, both on sched- date our entire fleet. Come munity leaders, ule and on budget. see for yourself what we all local organizations It’s a wonderful have gained with this terrific and the public. In facility, brightly facility, built by our neighbor, addition, focus lit, with good ac- The Joseph Company using groups were held cess for the public local contractors and labor. with residential and work flow for Completed on time and on and business cusour employees. budget with the hard work tomers in order to There have been of our Austin Utilities staff assess the needs comments about and partners at TKDA and of the community Sherman the size of the new Associates. and our utility embuilding, but keep in mind It’s an honor to serve on ployees. As a board member and this is actually three utility the Austin Utilities Board. rate payer, I feel we did sub- businesses in one building Your board has been diligent stantial due diligence on – Electric, Natural Gas, and in keeping a watchful eye on these proposals in order Water. We have combined the financial health of the orto make sure there was a the contents of 7 old build- ganization. The community demonstrated need to make ings, some dating back to of Austin is fortunate to be this large capital invest- the 1920s. About half of the served by such a high caliment. When it came time for building is storage, ware- ber municipal utility which a decision, two options were house and garage. One com- has been able and willing to considered the most effec- pany servicing three utili- invest in our future energy tive. The first was to find a ties is somewhat uncommon needs. Please join us at our open way to update and utilize our outside of Austin but allows multiple existing facilities. Austin Utilities to gain cost house as we continue to make Connections for Better The second option was a new efficiencies. I hope you will able to at- Living. facility that would replace Austin Utilities is a museven buildings on three tend the Open House on Octoseparate properties, and ber 5th where you will be able nicipal utility serving aphelp us gain utility efficien- to see for yourself this beau- proximately 12,300 electric cies, while positioning us for tiful new community asset. customers, 10,300 natural gas success well into the future. Experience the light filled customers, and 9000 water Knowing a remodel had a and expanded customer lob- customers. Their mission is high potential for unknown by with acoustic privacy pan- to offer utility products and costs, your board chose to els, sit in one of the new com- services in a safe, reliable move forward on the new fa- fortable stations for account and responsible manner in Board of Commissioners President
Austin Utilities
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
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Timeline of Austin Utilities Facilities 1887-2016 1887 — City is granted authority to issue bonds to construct a municipal waterworks system on Water Street, now Fourth Avenue Northeast — present site of the AU Downtown Power Plant. 1888 — City council approves the erection of a small power plant (owned privately by S. H. and Winfield Scott Pierce, the Austin Electric Company) on former Water Street, and electric lights were turned on for the first time on March 15, 1889. 1899 — Austin Village Council, dissatisfied with the rates and services offered by the private company, decides to create a municipal electric utility and purchases the
Austin Utilities General Manager Mark Nibaur and Kelly Lady unveil the new logo for Austin Utilities early this year. The logo features an intersecting A and U to represent Austin Utilities. The slant between letters is meant for an upward direction and organization that is forward thinking and upward moving. The blue color represents reliability, conservation and trust. The green means AU is committed to sustainability and efficient energy use. Herald file photo Downtown Power Plant building from the Austin
Electric Company. 1922-1985 — Various
additions are made to the downtown site and
Power Plant decommissioning due to outdated and inefficient technology is completed. 2015 — Groundbreaking for the new Energy Park facility which will become the future facility for all Austin Utilities administration and operations. Expected move-in date is July 2016. 2016 — Austin Utilities finishes the Austin Utilities Service and Operations Center on June 1. Gas and electric crews begin moving in over June before other staff moves in July. The public portion of the facility open July 25. Austin Utilities also unveils a new logo early in the year.
surrounding buildings to accommodate their growing needs. 1961 — The Austin Municipal Building located at 400 4th St. NE was constructed by Austin Utilities for the community of Austin and is still occupied by both Austin Utilities and City of Austin administrative staff. 1997 — Addition to the Austin Municipal Building is completed to accommodate growing needs. 2009 — Austin Utilities purchases 23 acres known as Energy Park, 1908 14th St. NE in Austin’s industrial park for gas and water construction staff, vehicles and equipment. 2014 — Downtown
Major contributors to the construction of the Austin Utilities Service and Operations Center: • • •
The Joseph Company — Construction manager City Concrete — Building foundation Wagner Construction
• •
— Metal framing and exterior finishes TKDA of St. Paul — architect with senior architect Peter Brozek Jim Cummings
• • • • •
Concrete Rolling Green Fencing Doors And Floors Slowinski Flooring Kiker Brothers Firestone
• • • •
Allweather Roof Fraser Construction – Site Work Ulland Bros. Gage Brothers – Precast Concrete Panels
• • • • •
Mason City Glass Briese Iron Works – Structural Steel Hybrid Mechanical Schmidt Goodman Cole’s Electric
• • • •
Winona Controls Total Fire Protection Quality Overhead Door of Rochester, Minnesota Pump & Meter – Fuel Island & Lube Center
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD