Iowa State University Steam Supply Replacement

Baker Group worked with Iowa State University to upgrade their steam supply piping. They also required an upgrade to their steam capacity as their campus and enrollment numbers continue to grow. Baker Group installed a large capacity replacement (designed by Shive-Hattery) to the Steam System Supply Mains that fed Iowa State’s four major event centers: Hilton Coliseum, Scheman Building, Fisher Theatre and Stephen’s Auditorium.

The client had three main goals for the project; students’ safety and schedules, meeting the project deadline and unity between contractors. The project was underway in the early fall as classes and sporting events were beginning. Baker Group was able to plan ahead and take several measures to ensure no classes or events were affected. The project had to be completed before temperatures fell in the fall and winter and Baker Group was able to hit this mark with time to spare. The third goal was unity between contractors and the team at Iowa State. Iowa State’s engineers were well educated on the steam system and how it worked and were a great resource to Baker Group. This led to a project with strong communication, teamwork and understanding of not only the project goals but Iowa State’s long-term goals as well.

This project presented some challenges that Baker Group worked to overcome with flexibility and creative solutions. The first challenge was classes being in session on campus and football tailgating being adjacent to the jobsite. Baker Group had extra safety measures in place to ensure entrance to the jobsite was not feasible to unauthorized entrants. The second challenge was functions at the surrounding event centers. Baker Group scheduled ahead with Iowa State, maintained strong communication and worked flexible hours when needed to avoid disturbances. The weather presented the third challenge as this project required excavation and backfill every day. With a rainy summer and fall, Baker Group had to work hard and collaboratively to make up for construction delays caused by weather.