Come to see us!
From Columbia, travel west on I-26, exit Piney Grove Road to the right, take another right on to Fernandina (the frontage) Road and proceed to the Westpark office park. Turn left at the second Westpark entrance and find us on the left at number 168 Laurelhurst. To view a Mapquest map of our new location, click here. To view our own map of our new location, click here (appears in new window).

Charleston's new Azalea Complex
GWA is the Electrical Engineer of Record for Charleston (SC) County's new Azalea Complex. This is a 23-acre, multi-building project which will include Public Works; Law Enforcement; Fleet Operations; Procurement; Voter Registration; and Safety and Risk Management functions within a single complex.

GWA will provide master planning for power distribution, telephone and network infrastructure, as well as site lighting, including planning for initial facilities and future build-out to support services planned by the County.

Total vertical construction requiring electrical engineering services is expected to exceed 200,000 square feet, with outdoor storage and parking provided as needed to suit the County's needs.

Project Spotlight:
Gaston Professional Office Building

The project consisted of physicians' offices, clinical spaces and an outpatient surgery suite.

Gervais Street bridge
GWA is pleased to have been the Electrical Engineer of Record for the renovation of the Gervais Street bridge in Columbia, SC. The bridge was constructed in 1927 as a replacement for a wood and steel bridge which dated back to 1870. The 1870 bridge replaced an all-wood bridge which was burned in 1865 to prevent Sherman's army from crossing into the city during the Civil War. Earlier days saw the site used as "Friday's Ferry," which provided free passage across the river for ministers, Indians and public servants. All others paid a fee of one shilling and three pence.

The light fixtures are original to the 1927 bridge and were wired in series using paper- insulated, lead-covered cable. Removing the old cable presented a challenge because it could not readily be pulled out of the fixture poles, even using standard cable lubricants. After the usual solutions failed and after use of a harsh chemical was eliminated because of environmental damage, we decided to try a biodegradable substance such as a carbonated soft drink or a dishwashing liquid - one would provide a weak acid to dissolve the corrosion and the other an environmentally friendly lubricant. The solution worked, the cable came free and the cable raceways inside the poles were re-used for new, parallel-connected wiring.

GWA also redesigned the electrical distribution for the lighting to allow maintenance staff to service the system more safely, away from the flow of traffic.

Did you know?
Did you know? Dan Reese is back after an absence of a little over a year. He is a valuable addition to the staff and we are glad to have him back among us.

Did you know? Drucilla Brookshire has successfully completed the MasterFormat™ Accredited Instructor Program as prescribed by the Construction Specifications Institute.

Did you know? GWA has recently joined the United States Green Building Council. Dickson O'Brien is the principal representative.

Did you know? GWA has recently joined the South Carolina Hospital Association. Bryson Tucker is the principal representative.

Did you know? Alan Kinsey attended a 3-day seminar in Torrance, California recently to become more familiar with Captor, Dapper, TMS and A_Fault, the software from SKM Systems Analysis, Inc. which we use for performing fault studies and calculating transient motor starting, load flow and time-current relationships in power systems.

Did you know? Guy White was presented the 2004-2005 Service to the Profession Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina at their annual convention in Charleston.

Did you know? There are many different fluorescent lamp and ballast combinations that can be used. Some use less energy, last longer and produce more light than others. Where appropriate, GWA specifies combinations that provide high performance, long life and low energy use.

Esoterica
Electric motors driven by variable speed drives (VFD's) are sometimes known to exhibit premature bearing failure. Pulse-width-modulated VFD's employing insulated-gate bipolar transistors operating at high switching frequencies can induce shaft voltages which in turn can produce electrical discharge machining and circulating currents, causing damage to bearings and bearing races. The damage is seen as eroding of races and pitting of bearings. Circulating currents can also be induced within shafts, tachometers, attached equipment and motor bases. Solutions include using conductive grease, insulating the bearings, adding common-mode grounding and building motors with Faraday shields.

GWA Electrical Engineers, Inc.
is an electrical engineering firm offering a diversity of services, including consulting, forensic engineering, studies and reports, design and construction administration.

GWA/EE specializes in medium voltage power distribution, electrical systems for buildings, engineering for power quality and reliability, electrical systems for civil works, electrical systems for healthcare and lighting for architecture, sports, roadways, parking lots, etc.

GWA/EE places a high value on integrity in both internal and external relationships. We strive to maintain high ethical and technical standards within our organization and in our dealings with clients.