The 1.6 million-square-foot Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System replacement medical center has a central power plant with enough capacity for the entire campus to operate independently of the city’s infrastructure and be self-sustaining for up to five days in case of natural disaster or emergency, according to an article on the Herald Online website.

“With this electric service in place, permanent systems may be brought up, getting the project one step closer to controlling the environment required to complete construction,” said Clark/McCarthy Healthcare Partners project director Steve Maslen.

Construction of the central energy plant began June 2012. Sustainability was a key consideration and the central plant incorporates many green features. Water for the cooling towers will be supplied, in part, from rain water collected and stored onsite, protecting natural resources and helping reduce utility costs.

Read the article.