You need a power plant that ensures customers have enough energy when they need it, whether the power originates from coal, fossil fuels, hydroelectric, wind or solar. If your utilities control building needs a renovation or an entirely new campus, we are the architects of choice for the utilities, mining and petrochemical industries. Our expertise in designing control rooms and control buildings is second to none, with over 100 built facilities around the globe. Contact us to learn more.

NERC Compliance

If your industry needs to comply with NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection requirements, BAW possesses the expertise and experience to help you design a new or remodeled control center while protecting your operation assets and control center infrastructure with the proper standards and regulation.

Smart-Grid Ready

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is not just the wave of the future, it’s here now and it’s here to stay. Smart grid technology and the way it influences architectural design and layout is therefore built into every BAW design for private and public electric utilities and power processing plants.

Physical and Cyber Security

Investing in your electric utility’s physical and cyber security can reduce the impact of a
disturbance or outage. Public and private electric utilities are investing in infrastructure to reduce the risk of major electric outages. Specifically, the objective is to improve the “resiliency” of the entire electric distribution system. Or more simply put, the goal is to make sure that if there is a disturbance or outage, the impact is minimized, and the system can be restored quickly. All  BAW designs for the utility industry are inherently resilient and offer state-of-the-art physical and cyber security.

High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse Protection

Your utility is part of the critical infrastructure, and needs to meet high-altitude electromagnetic pulse protection guidelines in the event of an electromagnetic pulse attack. We can ensure that your control building and/or control room meets the standards for mitigation.

A High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) is a burst of radiation produced in the atmosphere by an external source. It has the potential to interrupt, degrade or halt transmission of power in the grid. As the global leader in mission-critical control room design, BAW Architecture offers HEMP protection services. We have built an international reputation working with some of the largest and most prestigious companies and institutions around the world. If your control room or control building needs to be HEMP protected, call on BAW for a one-stop-shop solution.

Data Centers And Your Utility

Data centers pose unique challenges, due to their requirements for high reliability power and cooling systems. Successful design of a data center, particularly for mission-critical 24/7 utility, is no place for the uninitiated. BAW Architecture has designed control buildings, including data centers, around the world for the utility, oil and gas, mining and transportation industries. Furthermore, BAW specializes in data center engineering, and we offer a one-stop-shop of unmatched expertise for your control room and data center project needs.

Putting the Human in HFE

BAW’s experience applying human factors engineering (HFE) is focused on the visualization of the system and physical layout of the space to improve situational awareness in the control room. By using an operator-centric approach and best HFE practices, operators can quickly respond to any and all disturbances. We have pioneered this human-centric approach for the past 25 years for clients around the globe.

The Right Architects for Your Utility

BAW and its partners possess the experience and expertise to protect the critical infrastructure housed in the control buildings of utilities to NERC standards. By hardening infrastructure and updating technology and operational procedures, we can ensure that your control room meets Military Standard 188-125, which establishes the benchmark for product performance in a HEMP event. Hardening your infrastructure is an investment in critical long-term viability, one that may be eligible for government funding.

Your focus is on daily supply and demand fluctuations, energy storage and dissipation concerns, how to moderate flow, and whether it’s necessary to turn back the dial on production. Your physical facility should make this important work as seamless as possible. BAW will get you there. Reach out today to start a conversation.