PECO Main Office Building

Leveraging 3D visualization for above-ceiling reality capture during a critical renovation.

Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Client

PECO Energy Company

Project Status

Complete

PECO Energy Company, a powerhouse in American utilities, boasts a rich history and scale. At the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City, its 27-story main office building (MOB) stands as a blend of legacy and modernity — the North building dating back to 1916, seamlessly joined with the South building, added in 1970.

Recently, PECO embarked on a renovation of the MOB’s 5th floor. Our team was brought in to help transform the space, tasked not only with engineering solutions but also with 3D laser scanning services to pave the way for a successful project.

Square feet

64,000

Challenging conditions

Having worked on many projects at the MOB over the years, we were familiar with the challenges in the building, including significant difficulty of ceilings tightly packed with both active and inactive systems.

Our experts performed 3D scanning to provide the contractor with imagery of current conditions both below and above the ceilings to supplement the design documents. The scans provided the contractor with a clear and documented understanding of existing conditions, which were critical to this effort since a data center on the 5th floor had to remain functional during the renovation.

Adding color for contractor and client

Full-color scans were provided for the South Tower, North Tower and as a combined point cloud to provide design and construction teams more comprehensive viewing options. The point cloud was created in several formats for ease of use and access depending on stakeholder preferences.

All scans were registered to 1/16” accuracy as verified within a registration report distributed with the scan data. Geotags — pieces of media attached at coordinates within the point cloud — created during the scanning process provided additional embedded information, such as electrical panel schedules and nameplate data of mechanical equipment.

Understanding existing conditions—both above and below the ceilings—was essential for this renovation. Our 3D scans gave the contractor needed project context to keep the data center running smoothly while we worked.