Grainger Contracting & Services is currently executing a comprehensive chiller replacement project at the USDA US Salinity Laboratory (USSL) in Riverside, California. This critical infrastructure upgrade involves the decommissioning and removal of the facility's existing evaporative cooler, chiller, cooling tower, and associated pumps to make way for a modern, high-efficiency cooling system.

Operating within an active research facility, our team is managing the complex logistical requirements of a live campus environment. The project scope includes:

• System Modernization: Disconnecting and removing legacy mechanical equipment and replacing it with two new chillers and all related appurtenant devices to ensure reliable climate control for the laboratory's mission-critical activities.

  
  

• Electrical Infrastructure: Installing new breakers within the existing switchboard and performing comprehensive electrical distribution work, including the installation of insulated wire, cable, and power system studies to support the increased efficiency of the new units.

  
  

• Precision Engineering: Executing detailed mechanical work including new chilled water piping systems, thermal insulation, and the integration of BACnet Direct Digital Controls (DDC) for advanced building automation.

  
  

• Operational Continuity: Coordinating closely with the Contracting Officer to establish precise sequences of procedure and means of access, ensuring that work—including utility cutovers—is performed with minimal disruption to ongoing laboratory operations.

  
  

• Rigorous Quality & Safety: Adhering to strict USDA security protocols and safety standards, including comprehensive Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) and functional performance testing to verify that all systems meet stringent federal performance specifications before final acceptance.

By carefully phasing construction and maintaining open communication with facility stakeholders, we are delivering a service-ready mechanical system that enhances the laboratory's operational sustainability and long-term infrastructure resilience.