09.23.15
Citing their obsolete boilers and growing energy demands, the University of Minnesota turned to Harris for help with the installation of a state-of-the-art combined heat and power plant for their Minneapolis campus.
Due to zoning and permitting constraints, the new turbine, heat recovery system and modern mechanical systems had to fit in the historic Old Main Heating Plant. To head off space issues and potential clashes, Harris and its partners relied on 3-D modeling to detect and ...
Read More 04.20.15
Qteros is a biofuel startup that produces ethanol from various biomass feedstocks. The cellulosic ethanol fermentation pilot plant can produce about 1,000 gallons of ethanol from biomass sources such as wood chips and fibrous plant residues. Harris furnished equipment, design engineering and installation services, working closely with Qteros to integrate used owner furnished equipment and new equipment to build the pilot plant. Harris developed the process engineering and controls to match Qteros’ technology requirements. The project was closely documented to ...
Read More 07.10.14
The Solar Energy Research Center (SERC) is a LEED Silver certified laboratory dedicated to finding alternative fuels. Harris was contracted to provide the HVAC ductwork and piping for a new 40,000-square foot facility.
The SERC project had limited lay-down area which required just-in-time delivery on all materials and equipment. Additionally, the street along the north side of the project had to remain open for traffic at all times. The lack of space was a major challenge for ...
Read More 06.10.14
Harris completed a total of six projects for the Solana Generating Station. The solar power plant located near Gila Bend, Arizona features parabolic shaped mirrors mounted on structures that track the sun and concentrate the sun’s rays to provide heat to power a conventional turbine.
Harris installed over 170,000 linear feet of large bore carbon steel welded pipe over a three-square mile area. Our dedicated work force peaked with 150 pipefitters working up to two 12-hour shifts seven ...
Read More 06.06.14
Mayo Clinic opened the first facility in the Midwest capable of providing proton beam therapy used to treat cancer. The building features four treatment rooms that include a three-story, 190-ton mechanical apparatus (gantry) needed for the proton beam and a 20-ton magnet to guide the beam. Due to the size, weight and radiologic properties of the equipment involved, the size and thickness of concrete in this building is unprecedented in this area with the thickest wall measuring 21-feet nine-inches ...
Read More 06.04.14
Located on a 109-acre site, Otter Tail Ag – a 55 million gallon per year ethanol plant – takes corn grown by local farmers and turns it into ethanol. Harris was chosen as the prime contractor for this project and oversaw the complete construction of the plant.
Harris teamed with Delta-T Corp on the design technology, and after months of development and pricing, contracts were signed in October of 2006 and civil site work began immediately. To facilitate construction, Harris developed ...
Read More 04.17.14
Harris played a central role in overhauling the historic Valspar Applied Science and Technology (VAST) Center. After overseeing the demolition of existing mechanical and plumbing systems, Harris installed full plumbing and HVAC to the lower half of the building.
The Valspar labs test various types of paints and powders that require higher airflow rates and non-corrosive ductwork. With the large array of mechanical equipment running throughout the building, a Harris-led 3-D coordination effort between contractors was required ...
Read More 01.23.14
In August 2008, Harris began a 275,000-square foot addition to the existing Minneapolis Children’s Hospital consisting of an eight-story vertical expansion, a new central plant and front entry along with extensive renovations.
Harris provided complete design-build engineering and installation of all mechanical, plumbing, medical gases and temperature control systems for this project. Manufacturing ductwork and piping was key to streamline the installation and meet an aggressive “fast-track” schedule.
The eight-story addition included an energy plant ...
Read More 12.03.13
Harris was hired by scrap metal recyclist American Iron & Steel Company as the general contractor to build a new, state-of-the-art enclosed metal shredder. The project included building the facility to house the shredder, along with the plumbing, HVAC, electrical, process equipment (shredder and conveyors), dust control system, walkways and platforms.
The metal shredder was built with several unique features that allowed it to operate safely and conform to environmental regulations. Rather than discharging stormwater, Harris installed ...
Read More 09.03.13
Minnesota based cooperative Corn Plus Ethanol awarded Harris Mechanical and its partner Von Roll Inc., the contract to provide a bubbling fluid bed combustor, waste heat steam generator, and air pollution control system at its 40,000,000 gallon/yr ethanol production plant.
Development of the Corn Plus project began when another customer approached Harris Mechanical to help Corn Plus find a solution to a maintenance problem concerning a syrupy waste byproduct. With Harris & Von Roll’s experience with ...
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