RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Richland, WA
Engineering Northwest
Buchanan coordinated design, engineering, construction and installation of a combined (17 carriers) community communications facility and transmission tower on Rattlesnake Mountain. The project started on July 30, 2009 and will be complete October 15th. Within that window, Buchanan worked with the modular unit supplier to build and deliver the prefab modular equipment shelter in time to meet the scheduled deadline.

The main tower, which supports the bulk of the antennas and accompanying cabling, is the 180-foot base of a 350 foot tower. Both towers can sustain 150 mph winds. The solid rock Rattlesnake Mountain rises 3,527 ft above sea level and survived the Missoula floods 12,000 years ago. To anchor the main tower, we had to place a 472 CY floating modular concrete pad.

Buchanan crews worked in 75-plus mph winds on a number of days to meet the weather-dependent schedule. Telecom carriers include the Dept. of Energy, the Washington State Patrol, 4 counties, and NOAA.

ST. MONICA LEARNING CENTER
Buchanan is building a 3,500 sf preschool learning center for St. Monica Church on Mercer Island. The style of the addition embraces a Northwest Modern look, with clean, bold lines and sustainable materials. The new spaces included a gathering area, reading room and an art room.

Superintendent Don Salter leads a field

trip to show the future tenants their

new space.

NEW PROJECTS

PSE REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
King County, WA
Buchanan is currently facilitating upgrades to bring PSE’s regional energy operations center in line with regulatory requirements. We are providing complete mechanical and electrical overhauls, replacing emergency back-up generators, and reconfiguring spaces to accommodate new conference rooms, training rooms, and kitchens.

Additional work includes installing a high security barrier at the entrance to the facility, constructing an ornamental courtyard, and adding all new landscaping on the south side of the site. Buchanan is constrained to strict security requirements established by the Homeland Security Agency. As the power operations center for the region with operations running 24/7, every aspect of the work from replacing windows to moving the emergency back-up generators, is carefully planned out, reviewed by the facilities managers, and evaluated by the workers impacted prior to initiation.

Additional manpower and processes are in place to ensure that sensitive equipment and data are protected, and power maintained at all times. Safeguards included obtaining mid-level clearances, scheduling escorts for secure areas and implementing more cost effective and less invasive design changes to minimize disturbances to the impacted areas. Further, we develop room- and task-specific mobilization/backout plans in every secure location in case of an emergency.

We can take a compliment!

"Thanks Dennis, for looking out for me on the Kenmore Project. You and your team, Bob, Tim & Craig, are a pleasure because of the integrity and thoughtfulness you model so well.

-Radford & Co., Realtors

RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS
Buchanan provided essential upgrades and space reconfigurations to this informal conference center located on a wooded property with limited access. Our crew demolished and rebuilt most of the walls on both floors, upgraded the electrical and mechanical systems throughout the building, reconfigured the layout, updated the kitchen to commercial use and replaced carpeting, fixtures and outdated surfaces.

Buchanan worked closely with the owner to value engineer the project to meet the budget.