Henneman Completes First Wind Turbine Project

A Conversation with Tracy A. Wilson, P.E., LEED AP  

When Tracy Wilson of Henneman’s Industrial Technology Group got a call from architect BLDD to design the electrical needs for a new wind turbine project, she was eager to be part of this renewable energy project. Though Henneman had been called on before to investigate wind turbine energy applications, this would be the first project using this relatively new technology that Henneman would design and see to completion.

 

Richland Community College, located in Decatur, Illinois, received a donation to fund a wind turbine project. BLDD headed up the project and hired Henneman as a sub-consultant to address the electrical needs of the project. A wind energy consultant was hired to help determine the wind turbine design and size options.

 

Based on the funds available, the design team determined a 100kW Wind Turbine was within the budget. Henneman’s role was to design the electrical connection between the Richland electrical system and the wind turbine and also specify the isolation transformer located at the base of the turbine. The turbine was located adjacent to the new Richland Center for Sustainability and Innovation building. This project is to be LEED certified and the goal is for the wind turbine to allow it to achieve three points for supplying 12.5% of the building’s annual electrical needs with on-site renewable energy.

 

Tracy, a Henneman veteran with just over 13 years at the firm, said one of the more challenging aspects of the project was meeting a tight deadline of less than eight months for complete design and installation. “This project was really on a fast track schedule and had to be finished by September 1st, in time for the Farm Progress show that occurs adjacent to the property. We were successful in completing this project on time and on budget,” Tracy said. Tracy added that working on this renewable energy project was very rewarding. “As the initial cost of wind turbines goes down, and the price of electricity goes up, the financial feasibility will improve. As more clients put greater importance on sustainability, it should be expected that the demand for wind generation and other renewable energies will increase,” Tracy said. “Henneman is gaining valuable experience with renewable energy projects and we are ready to assist clients with sustainable design and engineering,” she said.

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

Mark Blazis, P.E., LEED AP

Vice President – Mechanical Engineer

Mark Blazis celebrates 16 years with Henneman Engineering in February. During his long and rewarding career Mark has had an opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects with universities, libraries, hospitals, nursing homes, banks, correctional facilities, and even an art gallery and a fish hatchery. Through his years of hands-on experience, he has gained an extensive knowledge of HVAC and laboratory design.

Mark is a registered professional engineer in the state of Illinois, a LEED 2.0 accredited professional and a registered energy professional in the city of Chicago. Mark cites the East Side Chiller Upgrade at the University of Illinois-Chicago as one of his biggest projects. He was a key member of the team and managed much of the project from the initial master plan study through construction and commissioning during the four-year project. Mark’s career has included several awards including the ASHRAE 2006 Refrigeration Comfort Cooling Award for the University of Illinois at Chicago-West Campus Central Chilled Water Plant. Mark was also part of the design team for the Illinois State University Science Building which was awarded the Madigan Award from the State of Illinois.

Mark said some of the most rewarding aspects of his career at Henneman are being able to work closely with owners and architects and to develop long-term relationships. He believes Henneman’s broad experience in master-planning and execution of campus wide projects has greatly benefited his overall understanding of how all the components must work together. “My involvement in these projects has been a great opportunity,” said Mark.

“Working with young engineers is an extremely rewarding part of my job -- helping young engineers and guiding them as they develop their skills,” Mark explains. Mark continued, “I was very fortunate to have a role model at Henneman, Al Raufeisen, who was my mentor for the first nine years of my career,” he said. “I feel I owe my career to him.” Although Al is retired, the two still keep in touch. Now Mark hopes to pass on to other young engineers some of the valuable things he has learned.

Raised near Springfield, IL, Mark said he knew in the sixth grade when he excelled in math and science that he wanted to be an engineer. Mark received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois in mechanical engineering and a MBA from DePaul University. Mark, now 38, began his career in Henneman’s Champaign office in 1994 and today works from the firm’s Chicago office he helped to open in 1999. As head of the firm’s mechanical engineering activities in Chicago, Mark oversees a team of eight engineers.

Mark lives in the Chicago suburb of LaGrange Park and is currently renovating a 125-year old Victorian house where he lives with his wife and three-year old daughter. He says it might take up to 20 years to have the entire house finished. It’s no wonder his favorite magazine is “This Old House.” When not working on his house, Mark enjoys playing golf, movies -- with his favorite being “The Princess Bride” and visiting exotic places. An exciting trip this past summer to Australia followed an earlier trip to the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina.