PROJECT

Riazzi Substation

We provided integrated engineer-procure-construct (EPC) services for the Riazzi Substation, a new gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation in Duquesne Light Company’s system. The facility — in the heart of Pittsburgh near two university campuses and growing tech, financial and medical industries — relieved potential system overloads, provided a more centralized supply to nearby load centers, and boosted system reliability and resilience.

The 138/23-kV GIS substation and associated 138-kV and 23-kV underground infrastructure is one of multiple projects our team has supported over a period of nearly a decade as part of DLC’s significant investment to provide added resiliency.

The Riazzi Substation site presented numerous challenges to the project team. Several terrain features limited the available property, including a long and narrow footprint, severe adjacent grade changes and a nearby overhead bridge. A large retaining wall was required to establish a suitable site. We partnered with several local and diverse construction subcontractors.

This limited site footprint created complications when sequencing multiple concurrent scopes of work and coordinating 40-plus subcontractors working within the space. Safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic produced additional obstacles during project execution.

Client

Duquesne Light Company

Location

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Services

Substations

Electrical Transmission & Distribution

Construction

Industry

Power

Case Study

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Riazzi Substation Is a Model of How to Overcome Challenging Construction Conditions

The new station consists of a four-position 138-kV gas insulated ring bus switchgear, two 138/23-kV power transformers and 23-kV metal-clad distribution switchgear. The switchgear and all associated protection and control systems are housed in a two-story building with the power transformers adjacent to the building.

We developed equipment specifications and procured all equipment, including the GIS, transformers, bus duct and switchgear. Our interdisciplinary engineering team developed all design, including site development, stormwater management and permitting, foundations, above- and below-grade electrical, the GIS building, protection and control, SCADA, 23-kV underground distribution, and 138-kV underground transmission high-pressure fluid-filled (HPFF) system.

The project was completed on schedule with over 100,000 construction hours on the job and zero recordables.