CPS Energy Installs Custom Vaults for San Antonio Convention Center

CPS Energy crews recently completed work on the elaborate electrical system that will power the new expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. The downtown convention center is undergoing a $325 million transformation to help meet the needs of San Antonio’s growing visitor industry. The facility will expand to 1.5 million square feet and include a variety of modern convention amenities.

CPS Energy recently installed three brand new, custom electric vaults to meet the center’s needs. Similar vaults, especially in CPS' downtown network, are often built underground. To save valuable exhibit space, one of the new vaults had to be elevated and built three stories off the ground. This job required huge cranes to move the six 24,000-pound transformers into place.

Just one of the large transformers housed in the vault can power more than 150 homes. A total of 14 transformers are in three vaults powering the convention center, according to KSAT.com.

Over the course of just 11 months, as many as 60 dedicated professionals took their turn at cutting, splicing, bending and mounting every piece and part needed to complete the project, The vaults are already energized and providing the limited amount of power needed for the current project. Power will be ramped up in early 2016 when the expanded center is set to open to visitors and support San Antonio’s $13 billion hospitality industry.