SERVICES: Steel Design

MP-Squared (MP2) partnered with VP Buildings to design this new state-of-the-art energy facility, which supplies electricity to more than 600,000 homes in the Northeastern Massachusetts and Boston region.

The facility includes an L-shaped heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG) at its center, wing additions known as the CTG and other ancillary buildings. We designed the HRSG building as a conventional braced frame hybrid structure. Primary framing consists of plate girders with HSS wall girts and built-up roof purlins.

The structure’s many unique features include its size and architectural louver system. To accommodate equipment, the facility needed to be 117′ tall, with a 106′ clear span. The exterior walls support the heavy load of the louver system—uncommon in power plants—which was designed to cantilever out from the wall panel to help “mask” the building.

The need for large roof openings on each side of the rafters also presented challenges for unbraced girder lengths.

MP2 and VP’s extensive coordination efforts to track and accommodate the many mechanical equipment needs and iterations greatly contributed to this project’s success.