Converter Compressor Facility Modernization

Salas O’Brien provided construction level documents for three (3) phases of construction to upgrade the helium and nitrogen process mechanical systems for NASA’s Converter Compressor Facility (CCF). Our requirements focused on bringing the CCF up to modern code compliance and incorporating the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification per the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC). The project earned 60 credits and is pre-certified as LEED Gold.

We designed the facility system retrofits supporting the new nitrogen and helium process mechanical control systems that mitigate the leakage that was occurring. By mitigating losses in the regulation and distribution process, the upgraded CCF is expected to save NASA over $1 billion over the next 10 years through reduced helium leaks. NASA is the single largest consumer of helium in the world.