ABB has successfully upgraded critical power infrastructure at the Smithsonian Institution’s iconic Arts and Industries Building in Washington, D.C., as it prepares to welcome visitors during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The electrical modernization is part of a larger revitalization effort to enhance safety, reliability and preservation for both staff and visitors during this historic milestone.

A historic building for historic times

The Smithsonian’s second-oldest building, the Arts and Industries building, has held national significance since opening in 1881 and remains a symbol of innovation, discovery and public access to knowledge.

The historic building’s electrical systems have been upgraded to support day-to-day operations as part of the larger ‘Historic Core’ renovation project. This effort reflects the Smithsonian’s commitment to safeguarding its heritage while preparing the building for future use.

For a brief but important four-month period, the building will reopen as a central gathering point for the 250th anniversary celebrations, welcoming visitors to the nation’s capital.

Against this backdrop, ensuring the reliability of critical electrical infrastructure is essential. Modernization was a priority, not only to enable the building’s reopening for this historic occasion, but also to strengthen its ability to operate safely, reliably and sustainably.

To meet these requirements, ABB retrofitted the site’s switchgear with custom-engineered circuit breakers. Manufactured at ABB’s US Electrification Service factory in Florence, South Carolina, the breakers were designed with integral fusing to meet the site’s specific fault current protection needs, and to support increased operational demand.

Strengthening the invisible backbone of operations

While largely unseen, the building’s electrical infrastructure plays a critical role that extends beyond powering lighting and exhibits. It also supports the south side of the National Mall and neighboring Smithsonian facilities, contributing to the operations of the wider campus. With visitor numbers set to surge for the upcoming celebrations, ensuring reliable power is essential not only to the visitor experience, but also the safe and continuous operation of the site.

ABB’s Electrification Service team began with detailed maintenance across existing equipment, including three switchgear line-ups and six network protectors. Every component was assessed, tested and prepared to ensure a strong foundation ahead of the upgrade.

The project then progressed to modernization, integrating circuit breakers with enhanced system protection designed to respond faster to faults. Additionally, new safety features and labeling were updated to help reduce risk for personnel working on or near energized equipment, strengthening overall operational safety.

The upgrade also allows the Smithsonian to manage its infrastructure using integrated monitoring and data capabilities that enable continuous visibility into system performance, allowing potential issues to be identified and addressed proactively.

Delivering reliability when it matters most

Projects like this rarely take center stage, and while visitors will not see the switchgear, circuit breakers or the detailed engineering studies behind them, they will experience a facility with reliable power. This level of reliability helps the Smithsonian team focus on what matters most – delivering meaningful and engaging experiences for the public during this significant milestone.

“It’s been a complex project involving some agile thinking and great collaboration between our team and that of the Smithsonian. We were delighted to have a role in strengthening the critical infrastructure of one of the country’s most prestigious institutions, and at such a significant time. It’s been an honor to support the Smithsonian’s priorities of safe and reliable operations both now and into the future,” said Pedro Robredo, Senior Vice President of Electrification Service – Americas Region, ABB.

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com

ABB Electrification is a global technology leader enabling the efficient and reliable distribution of electricity from source to socket. With more than 50,000 employees across 100 countries, we collaborate with our customers and partners to solve the world’s greatest challenges in electrical distribution and energy management. As the energy transition accelerates and electricity demands grow, we are electrifying the world in a safe, smart and sustainable way. At ABB, we are ‘Engineered to Outrun’, and we are passionate about helping our customers and partners do the same. go.abb/electrification

 

Source: abb.com

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