PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4b 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting    December 9, 2014 
DATE:    December 1, 2014 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   David Soike, Director, Aviation Facilities and Capital Programs 
Wayne Grotheer, Director, Aviation Project Management Group 
SUBJECT:  Airport-wide Mechanical Controls Upgrade (CIP # C800497) 
Amount of This Request:        $3,226,000   Source of Funds:  Airport Development
Fund and Future
Est. Total Project Cost:          $3,500,000 
Revenue Bonds 
Est. State and Local Taxes:        $218,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to advertise, award, and
execute a major public works contract for the construction of the Airport-wide Mechanical
Controls Upgrade project.  The total amount of this request is $3,226,000.  Previous
authorizations for design totaled $274,000 for a total projected project cost of $3,500,000. 
SYNOPSIS 
Commission authorization is requested to proceed with construction of the Airport-wide
Mechanical Controls Upgrade. The existing system controls and/or monitors: 
The extensive mechanical system that serves the airport terminal campus; 
The building heating and cooling, water pumping and distribution, ventilation, cooling
towers and central mechanical plant operations; 
Smoke control, natural gas and water metering; and 
Waste pumping demands of the Airport. 
The existing controls system suffers significant performance issues due to obsolescence, the mix
of network types and the overall number of aging devices on the serial communications network. 
The existing network will be upgraded to a modern Ethernet-based communications system that
can provide sufficient bandwidth and speed to enable operations and maintenance personnel to
manage the airport-wide systems without delays or loss of data. This project was included in the
2015  2019 capital budget and plan of finance. 


Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
December 1, 2014 
Page 2 of 6 
BACKGROUND 
The existing airport-wide mechanical system control network has been evolving over the years
and has been modified as larger mechanical system projects have been executed. As technology
has progressed, many of the control components have become obsolete. The current network
consists of a mix of serial and Ethernet communications that connect the servers to the
mechanical systems' field controllers. In addition, the current system is overloaded with control 
devices on the serial communications network.
The existing system currently runs on a local area network which limits the flexibility in adding
stand-alone systems to the airport wide network. The system will be upgraded to an Ethernetbased
wide area network (WAN). The WAN allows the airport to add separate stand-alone
systems such as the South Logistic Center (SLC) control system or future systems that may be
required. 
In addition to the mix of systems, there are two components of the mechanical control network
that slow down processing of important data.
The first component is the existing system copper "backbone" in Concourse A. This
existing copper "backbone" transmits data slowly, creating a bottleneck.  The new
Ethernet system will replace the copper system with a fiber optics "backbone" that can
transmit data 17,000 times faster than copper.
The second component is the network hardware and switches. These also need to be
replaced to increase data transmission speed and reliability.
During the design phase of this project it was discovered that thirty-one (31) additional control
panels that drive the smoke control system on A Concourse need to be replaced as they would be
obsolete and no longer supported with repair parts beginning in 2015. The risk to the Airport
would be that a panel failure could cause a smoke control system failure of several weeks for
procurement of needed parts. 
The current server and a large portion of the network hardware have exceeded their
useful/supportable life (5-7 years). Technical support is no longer available for the existing
system hardware and software. The server and hardware must be replaced. 
The existing serial network cannot incorporate the addition of a stand-alone system such as the
one controlling the SLC. The new system will  add a wireless connection to enable addition of
existing facilities such as the SLC, and it will allow the addition of other stand-alone systems
with separate servers. 
The existing system components and software are a Siemens proprietary system. An existing
competition waiver is in place that covers the Siemens system. The project specifications
include the proprietary system as well as the publicly bid portions of the work and will be
included in the bid package.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
December 1, 2014 
Page 3 of 6 

A good faith survey for asbestos has been completed. At this point we do not anticipate the need
for regulated materials abatement. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND DETAILS 
The project will replace the existing Airport-wide Mechanical Control System with an up-to-date
data delivery system that includes a new Ethernet fiber optics "backbone," up to date hardware,
new server, and updated software. The new system will provide the needed speed and flexibility
for current and future needs as well as facilitating the addition of stand-alone systems such as the
existing facilities in the SLC. 
The stand-alone system will also limit the risk of security breaches. The system is completely
stand-alone with three exceptions where wireless signal transmission occurs by line of sight and
all within the security fence. Security provisions include: operator password required for access,
access level clearance for specified levels of control, password personnel reports, stand-alone
system not connected to internet. Servers and work stations are all located in controlled areas. 
Project Objectives 
Maintain a high level of security. 
Increase the speed and reliability of the existing mechanical systems communications
network and control system. 
Provide Aviation Maintenance the ability to: 
o  Control and monitor cooling tower chemical feed pumps. Monitor to two existing
parking garage stair tower pressurization fans. 
o  Control and monitor the SLC, Bus Maintenance facility and Distribution Center
mechanical systems. 
Minimize system downtime and associated operational disruption to tenants. 
Complete project on time and within budget. 
Scope of Work 
Coordinate with ICT to make sure that the existing mechanical controls system is
completely separated from other airport communications systems in order to provide a
secure network. 
Increase the speed and reliability of the existing mechanical systems communications
network and control system: 
o  Expand the Ethernet network to include Concourse A mechanical systems and
major communications links over fiber optic cables for the systems.
o  Replace the existing network switches with 1 gigabit/sec network switches. 
o  Replace the existing copper "backbone" with fiber optics. 
o  Upgrade existing, obsolete, mechanical systems field panels in Concourse A,
from serial to Ethernet.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
December 1, 2014 
Page 4 of 6 
o  Upgrade the hardware and network cables for fifty six (56) existing system panels
in Concourse A. Replace the existing server and associated software in the
Central Mechanical Plant control room. 
o  Provide new racks for new system. 
o  Provide new communications hardware for mechanical controls system. 
o  Update or create mechanical system documentation to reflect system changes
including network record drawings. 
o  Update system graphical visualization, data collection, and aging software to the
latest version and update respective support agreements as required. 
Control and Monitor the Cooling Tower chemical feed pumps: 
o  Extend the new fiber optics backbone to the existing actuators in the Cooling
Tower. 
o  Add actuators to existing Cooling Tower control valves. 
o  Integrate actuators into the new controls software. 
Monitor to two existing parking garage stair tower pressurization fans: 
o  Add controls to two existing pressurization fans in the parking garage stair wells. 
o  Extend the new fiber optics backbone to the existing actuators in the Cooling
Tower. 
o  Integrate fans into the new controls software. 
Control and Monitor the SLC, Bus Maintenance facility and Distribution Center
mechanical systems: 
o  Create a new network connection to the SLC, Bus Maintenance facility and
Distribution Center by adding a wireless connection to the new fiber optics
backbone. 
o   Incorporate the buildings' mechanical equipment into the new control and
monitoring software. 
Schedule 
MII Authorization                       November 2014 
Commission Construction Authorization        December 2014 
Issue Notice to Proceed                    May 2015 
Construction Substantial Completion          May 2016 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Budget/Authorization Summary                   Capital       Total Project 
Original Budget                            $1,800,000         $1,800,000 
Previous Budget Increases                      $1,700,000         $1,700,000 
Revised Budget                           $3,500,000         $3,500,000

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
December 1, 2014 
Page 5 of 6 
Previous Authorizations                         $274,000          $274,000 
Current request for authorization                   $3,226,000         $3,226,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request            $3,500,000         $3,500,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized                     $0              $0 
Total Estimated Project Cost                    $3,500,000         $3,500,000 

This Request        Total Project 
Project Cost Breakdown 
Design Phase                                   $0          $274,000 
Construction Phase                          $3,008,000         $3,008,000 
Sales Tax                                   $218,000           $218,000 
Total                                      $3,226,000         $3,500,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
This project, CIP #C800497, was included in the 2015  2019 capital budget and plan of finance
with a budget of $3,500,000. The source of funds is the Airport Development Fund and future
revenue bonds. The Port anticipates issuing revenue bonds in 2015 to fund a number of projects.
Financial Analysis and Summary 
CIP Category             Renewal/Enhancement 
Project Type              Airport Infrastructure 
Risk adjusted discount rate     N/A 
Key risk factors             N/A 
Project cost for analysis        $3,500,000 
Business Unit (BU)          Terminal 
Effect on business performance  NOI after depreciation will increase 
IRR/NPV             N/A 
CPE Impact             $0.01 increase in 2017 
Lifecycle Cost and Savings 
The project replaces existing mechanical systems communication infrastructure. By itself, this
project does not provide energy efficiency; rather the project provides better control and
monitoring data in real time, which allows the maintenance staff to diagnose operational
problems more quickly and to remedy them quicker, which could result in savings. Tracking and
trending of the data is utilized for energy conservation project analysis. Operational costs will
remain the same and are factored into existing Aviation Maintenance budgets. 
STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
This project will support our Century Agenda Strategic Objective to meet the region's air
transportation needs at the Airport by ensuring that the infrastructure is operationally reliable and
well controlled.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
December 1, 2014 
Page 6 of 6 

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE 
Economic Development 
The project will benefit Airport customers by improving response time to mechanical problems
which might otherwise impact travelers' safety and comfort (smoke control, air temperature,
water temperature, etc.).  Operational efficiency can be improved with better control and
monitoring data from the various mechanical systems at the Airport. 
Environmental Responsibility 
The project will enhance the environment by recycling a portion of the materials to be removed
and by installing new more efficient Mechanical Control System equipment. 
Community Benefits 
The project will benefit the community by ensuring that the Airport is effective and efficient and
therefore can remain a financially healthy neighbor and good steward of energy.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1)  Leave the equipment in place and live with the slow response time and lack of
real time data. This alternative represents growing risk to the Port. If an aging component of the
system fails, then the remote monitoring and controlling function fails. HVAC Mechanical 
systems would still operate at the local thermostats and controllers using either the
manufacturers' or latest equipment operating parameters (set points). Equipment malfunctions
would not be visible to maintenance staff until customers call in with problems such as being too
hot or cold or that the waste pumps have failed and are overflowing. This is not the
recommended Alternative. 
Alternative 2)  Replace the existing Mechanical Control System with an up to date data
delivery system that includes a new fiber optics "backbone," up-to-date hardware, new server,
and updated software. The new system will provide the needed speed and flexibility for current
and future needs as well as facilitate the addition of stand-alone systems such as the facilities in
the SLC. This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
February 5, 2013  Authorization to proceed with design documents.