Denny Substation Explained

Denny Substation
Building Type:Electrical substation
Location:1250 Denny Way
Seattle, Washington
Coordinates:47.6191°N -122.3316°W
Start Date:2016
Completion Date:October 2018
Inauguration Date:July 20, 2019
Cost:$210 million
Owner:Seattle City Light
Diameter:184feet
Architecture Firm:NBBJ
Engineer:POWER Engineers
Structural Engineer:KPFF Consulting Engineers
Main Contractor:Walsh Construction

The Denny Substation is an electrical substation located in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, and operated by Seattle City Light. The facility takes up a whole city block along Denny Way and features a community center, interpretive exhibits, a dog park, and public art.

The substation was proposed in the early 2000s, during redevelopment of South Lake Union into a high-tech hub. A former Greyhound bus garage was acquired by Seattle City Light and demolished in 2014. Construction on the Denny Substation, including a street vacation to close part of Pontius Avenue, began in 2016 and was completed in 2018, at a cost of $210 million.

History

Historically, the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, located to the north of downtown and east of the Seattle Center, was a manufacturing district whose electrical power was supplied by the Broad Street Substation.[1] [2] After the failure of the Seattle Commons plan in the 1990s, which proposed a large city park over the neighborhood, the land was opened for development by Paul Allen's Vulcan Real Estate, which envisioned it as a hub for biotech and high tech firms.[3] Vulcan and Seattle City Light began talks of collaborating to build a $160 million substation in Interbay or South Lake Union in 2003,[4] expecting the additional high tech firms to put a strain on the Broad Street substation and neighborhood lines laid in the early 2000s.[5] [6] In 2005, Seattle City Light determined that adding capacity at the Broad Street substation through new transformer banks would be sufficient for the area's needs until the mid-2010s.[2] [7]

Seattle City Light proposed demolishing the Greyhound bus garage on Denny Way for its new substation in 2006,[8] with consultants recommending that the city acquire the site for $40 million as soon as possible.[7] The site was purchased by Seattle City Light in October 2008 and vacated by Greyhound in 2010.[9] From 2012 to 2014, Seattle City Light demolished the Greyhound facility and removed contaminated soils in preparation for construction.[10] [11] During the period between environmental cleanup and the start of construction, the vacant lot was used for a series of temporary public art installations collectively called All Rise.[11] [12]

Final approval for the project was granted in August 2015 by the Seattle City Council, who also approved the substation's unconventional design incorporating public benefits in exchange for a street vacation.[13] Walsh Construction was awarded the construction contract for the substation project, working alongside subcontractors Valley Electric, W.A. Chester and Transcon.[14] Construction of the substation began in May 2016,[15] and by the end of the year, the first outer walls were erected.[16] The substation's three transformers, each weighing 6.5ST, were installed in 2017.[17]

The Denny Substation was energized in April 2018 and was formally opened in October,[17] [18] becoming the first new substation built by Seattle City Light in 30 years.[16] [19] Construction of the substation required long-term closures of a westbound lane on Denny Way and postponed the installation of a bus lane on the street.[20] A formal opening ceremony was held on July 20, 2019, with remarks from city leaders and events sponsored by local businesses.[21] [22] The substation began supplying electricity later that year and is planned to be linked to another downtown substation after 2020.[23] [24]

Design

The Denny Substation features an unusual design that incorporates public spaces and community amenities into an otherwise utilitarian structure.[25] The 110000abbr=onNaNabbr=on substation, designed by architectural firm NBBJ, is shaped in the form of an acute trapezoid, with its longest side facing Denny Way.[26] The structure slopes inward, allowing for sunlight to reach the open spaces surrounding the substation.[27] The outer walls use 35adj=midNaNadj=mid stainless steel panels (16feet above street level)[26] with a NaNmiles elevated pedestrian ramp to provide views of the cityscape and the substation's interior.[25] [28]

In exchange for a street vacation that eliminated a block of Pontius Avenue, the Denny Substation project is required to include public benefits.[29] The substation has 44000square feet of open space located on its western side, including an off-leash area for dogs and public art.[28] [30] At the southeast corner of the facility is a community space with a gallery space, exhibit hall, a small theater, and an educational center known as the "Energy Inspiration Center".[31] A King County Metro bus stop on Denny Way will be integrated into the substation, with enhanced shelters and real-time arrival information.[30] [32] A sound art installation was placed in a nearby alley, projecting the noise of rushing water in reference to the hydroelectric facilities located around the region.[27]

The substation has two major pieces of public art, as part of the municipal percent for art program. Transforest by Lead Pencil Studio is a 110adj=midNaNadj=mid sculpture that combines the forms of an old-growth tree and a modern transmission tower. On the exterior walls of the substation house Ned Khan's Switchwall, consisting of a strip of colored lights that change based on wind flows.[33] [34]

Earlier design concepts featured a more standard substation with 40adj=midNaNadj=mid walls,[25] or incorporating the facility into the base of a high-rise building.[35] The chosen design was described as a "a celebration of the functionality" and called the "coolest electrical substation ever" by Slate.[36] [37] Lead designer John Savo of NBBJ stated that they "[didn't] want it to be your grandfather's substation", desiring a facility that would "engage [with] the community, to make it an amenity and not a distraction".[38]

Cost

When first proposed in the 2000s, the substation project was estimated to cost up to $150 million because of space limits and mitigation.[7] The price rose to $174 million by 2014 after integration of public benefits and open space, as well as the relocation of the Amazon headquarters to nearby Denny Triangle.[39] [40] After the completion of design work and environmental cleanup in 2015, the substation's cost was revised to $210 million because of unexpected soil contamination and the need for newer electrical equipment.[41] [42] The substation's construction costs are funded by Seattle City Light through regular rate increases for customers as part of their six-year Strategic Plan.[42] [43]

Specifications

The Denny Substation will have an initial capacity of 50 Megavolt-ampere (MVA), and could increase to 405 MVA with facilities expansions.[44] An underground distribution network, scheduled to be completed in 2020,[16] will direct electricity from the substation to the Denny Triangle and South Lake Union neighborhoods. The substation will be connected to the Massachusetts Substation in SoDo via a 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line through Downtown Seattle.[45] [46] The use of a gas-insulated switchgear in the Denny Substation will allow for a smaller footprint;[23] the facility will also use solar cells to produce its electricity and a heat recovery system.[28] [47] [48] Outside consultants hired by the city government in 2018 later concluded that the overall demand in the Denny Triangle and South Lake Union area would rise to 60 megawatts by 2027, far below the 180-megawatt capacity that the substation was designed for.[49]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fiset . Louis . April 9, 2001 . Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union — Thumbnail History . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170217054545/http://www.historylink.org/File/3178 . February 17, 2017 .
  2. News: Mulady . Kathy . April 28, 2005 . City in for big electrical bill as South Lake Union grows . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202045619/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/City-in-for-big-electrical-bill-as-South-Lake-1172097.php . February 2, 2017 .
  3. News: Godden . Jean . April 1, 2013 . Where ya going, South Lake Union? . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180307033728/https://crosscut.com/2013/04/south-lake-union-development-amazon-vulcan . March 7, 2018 .
  4. News: Young . Bob . McOmber . J. Martin . March 9, 2003 . Powering up South Lake Union: City Light plans $200 million in upgrades . B1 . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170829082416/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030309&slug=juice09m . August 29, 2017 .
  5. News: Young . Bob . March 25, 2004 . Nickels will return $500 contribution from Vulcan . B1 . The Seattle Times . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170829081944/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040325&slug=vulcan25m . August 29, 2017 .
  6. News: Young . Bob . McOmber . J. Martin . February 12, 2004 . Underground lines at South Lake Union? It's a tangle of issues for city . B1 . The Seattle Times . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170829082017/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040212&slug=underground12m . August 29, 2017 .
  7. News: Young . Bob . September 26, 2007 . City told to buy substation land now . B2 . The Seattle Times . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170829082848/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003903442_powergamble26m.html . August 29, 2017 .
  8. News: Miller . Brian . November 8, 2006 . Putting the Dog Down . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070124122745/http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0645/greyhound.php . January 24, 2007 . . February 27, 2017.
  9. Aspect Consulting . July 8, 2010 . Former Greyhound Maintenance Facility – Groundwater Remediation Performance and Groundwater Monitoring Report: Third Quarter 2010 . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180307033727/https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gsp/DocViewer.ashx?did=7771 . March 7, 2018 .
  10. January 24, 2014 . Environmental Cleanup Complete at Future Denny Substation Site . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170308014443/http://powerlines.seattle.gov/2014/01/24/environmental-cleanup-complete-at-future-denny-substation-site/ . March 8, 2017 .
  11. News: Hudak . Courtney . March 25, 2014 . City Light serves up South Lake Union art, electric . Crosscut.com . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180307033729/https://crosscut.com/2014/03/art-rising-denny-substation . March 7, 2018 .
  12. News: Romano . Tricia . October 24, 2014 . In a vacant lot on Denny, artistic endeavors flourish . B1 . The Seattle Times . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180307033728/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024856318_artlot23xml.html . March 7, 2018 .
  13. Web site: . August 17, 2015 . Clerk File 314305 . Office of the City Clerk of Seattle . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170226063739/http://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2327632&GUID=F3533A11-6301-4C73-BC90-7DEDDC1A0D15 . February 26, 2017 .
  14. News: January 15, 2016 . Walsh Group will start substation next month . . April 1, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081233/http://www.djc.com/news/co/12085403.html . April 2, 2017 .
  15. Web site: Denny Substation Program . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170313154144/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/default.asp . March 13, 2017 .
  16. News: December 30, 2016 . Outer wall goes up for Denny Substation . Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170401232630/http://www.djc.com/news/co/12096138.html . April 1, 2017 .
  17. News: Minnick . Benjamin . March 6, 2018 . It's not just a facade: Huge angled walls screen new $208M Denny Substation . Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce . subscription . March 6, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180307033727/http://www.djc.com/news/co/12108971.html . March 7, 2018 .
  18. News: Kerr . Maggie . October 2018 . How the Denny Substation Will Help Supply Seattle's Growing Need for Power While Also Fueling Community . . November 23, 2018.
  19. Web site: Program Overview . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170308053221/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/overview.asp . March 8, 2017 .
  20. News: Lindblom . Mike . October 5, 2017 . Bus-only lane on Denny Way is postponed . The Seattle Times . March 6, 2018.
  21. Web site: July 2019 . Denny Substation Program: Celebrate with City Light . Seattle City Light . dead . https://archive.today/20190721042604/https://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/ . July 21, 2019 . July 20, 2019 .
  22. News: Kerr . Maggie . December 2018 . Denny Substation Does More Than Just Send Power to Homes and Businesses . Seattle Business Magazine . December 25, 2018.
  23. News: Beekman . Daniel . April 2, 2019 . High-priced substation built to fuel Seattle's high-tech hub . A1 . limited . The Seattle Times . April 2, 2019.
  24. News: Schneider . Benjamin . August 2, 2019 . Meet Seattle's Snazzy New … Electrical Substation? . CityLab . March 3, 2020.
  25. Stinson . Liz . July 11, 2016 . We Want To Hang Out At This Electrical Substation. No, Really . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161206010552/https://www.wired.com/2016/07/want-hang-electrical-substation-no-really/ . December 6, 2016 .
  26. Web site: Seattle City Light Denny Substation: Bold Design, Subtle Substation . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170307171652/http://www.nbbj.com/work/seattle-city-light-denny-substation/ . March 7, 2017 .
  27. News: Sadick . Barbara . April 14, 2017 . A New Look for Urban Utility Structures . . June 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170604185930/https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-look-for-urban-utility-structures-1492178189 . June 4, 2017 .
  28. Web site: Substation Design . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170308053227/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/substationdesign.asp . March 8, 2017 .
  29. March 29, 2016 . Denny Substation Work Begins April 4 with One-Block Closure of Pontius Avenue North . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301093212/http://powerlines.seattle.gov/2016/03/29/denny-substation-work-begins-april-4-with-one-block-closure-of-pontius-avenue-north/ . March 1, 2017 .
  30. Web site: Denny Substation Project: Designing a One-of-a-Kind Substation . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170225161448/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/docs/DSP_Brochure_11x17%20_withbleed_FINAL_reduced.pdf . February 25, 2017 .
  31. News: Fesler . Stephen . July 29, 2015 . Seattle City Light's Denny Substation . The Urbanist . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092537/https://www.theurbanist.org/2015/07/29/seattle-city-lights-denny-substation/ . March 1, 2017 .
  32. Web site: February 19, 2015 . Denny Substation 90% Design and Public Benefits . Seattle Design Commission . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301005022/http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/cityplanning/designcommission/cs/groups/pan/@pan/@designcommission/documents/web_informational/p2239913.pdf . March 1, 2017 .
  33. Book: Rupp, James . 2018 . Art in Seattle's Public Spaces . 241–243 . . 9780295744087 . 1031421566.
  34. Web site: Artwork at the Denny Substation . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170228093114/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/library/designOpenHouse/BOARD_Artwork_at_Denny_Substation_FINAL.pdf . February 28, 2017 .
  35. News: Young . Bob . April 15, 2013 . High-voltage debate about cost of next City Light substation . B1 . The Seattle Times . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301181836/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020782271_substationtowersxml.html . March 1, 2017 .
  36. News: Ferris . David . March 15, 2016 . An electrical substation to delight the senses . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180630/http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060034007 . March 1, 2017 .
  37. News: Hohenadel . Kristin . September 15, 2016 . Seattle Is Building the Coolest Electrical Substation Ever . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301094910/http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2016/09/15/denny_substation_in_seattle_is_an_electrical_substation_with_a_dog_park.html . March 1, 2017 .
  38. News: Dunne . Carey . October 7, 2014 . World's Coolest Electrical Substation Has A Track And A Dog Park . . February 28, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180657/https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036664/worlds-coolest-electrical-substation-has-a-track-and-a-dog-park . March 1, 2017 .
  39. News: November 19, 2014 . $174M substation designed to be a good neighbor in SLU . Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160503130408/http://www.djc.com/news/ae/12072048.html . May 3, 2016 .
  40. News: Stiles . Marc . April 1, 2013 . Amazon's growth drives up cost of electrical substation by 48 percent . . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180307033727/https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2013/04/amazons-growth-drives-up-cost-of.html . March 7, 2018 .
  41. News: July 17, 2015 . City to start construction in 2016 on $210M Denny Way substation . Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150919064417/http://www.djc.com/news/co/12079748.html . September 19, 2015 .
  42. June 29, 2015 . Costs Rise for Future Denny Substation . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170307234228/http://powerlines.seattle.gov/2015/06/29/costs-rise-for-future-denny-substation/ . March 7, 2017 .
  43. Web site: Denny Substation Project FAQ . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170131084051/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/docs/DSP_FAQ.pdf . January 31, 2017 .
  44. January 22, 2015 . Denny Substation Project Final Environmental Impact Statement . 33 . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170217111811/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/docs/Denny_FEIS_January_22_2015.pdf . February 17, 2017 .
  45. Web site: Future Transmission . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170308053249/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/future.asp . March 8, 2017 .
  46. Web site: November 2015 . Denny Substation Project: Keeping Pace With Seattle's Power Needs . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170217175654/https://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/docs/DSP_Brochure.pdf . February 17, 2017 .
  47. Web site: June 6, 2013 . Seattle Design Commission Approved Meeting Minutes, June 6, 2013 . Seattle Design Commission . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170218102424/http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/cityplanning/designcommission/cs/groups/pan/@pan/@designcommission/documents/web_informational/s048710.pdf . February 18, 2017 .
  48. Web site: Denny Substation: A Look Inside . Seattle City Light . February 27, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170221051554/http://www.seattle.gov/light/dennysub/docs/Substation_3D_graphic.pdf . February 21, 2017 .
  49. News: Kroman . David . April 19, 2019 . Seattle went big on its new $210M power station — but did it need to? . Crosscut.com . April 22, 2019.

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