La Salle Academy Switchgear Upgrade

Project

ANJ Electric, a Rhode Island Division of McDonald Electrical, delivered a critical upgrade to the primary electrical infrastructure at La Salle Academy, a private college preparatory high school in Providence, Rhode Island. ANJ Electric, BER Engineering, and the school’s facilities department, completed a full demolition and replacement of the school’s aging switchgear—while keeping the campus fully operational throughout construction.

This modernization effort strengthened long‑term electrical reliability, increased capacity, and improved overall distribution system performance without disrupting daily academic

Project Scope:

• Switchgear Replacement: Performed full demolition and removal of the existing campus switchgear, installed a modern campus‑wide system designed to increase safety, efficiency, and electrical capacity.
• Electrical Infrastructure Integration: Reworked and reconnected feeder and distribution circuits to integrate seamlessly with the new switchgear, coordinated extensively with BER Engineering to ensure compatibility with existing systems and maintain optimal performance.
• Operational Continuity: Executed phased power shutdowns and implemented temporary power solutions to maintain uninterrupted school operations, worked closely with school administrators to schedule activities during low‑impact periods.
• Field Team: A dedicated team of four electricians delivered the installation safely, efficiently, and with precise sequencing.

Special Challenges

The primary challenge was completing a full switchgear replacement within an active, fully occupied school while maintaining uninterrupted power. Detailed shutdown planning, close coordination with La Salle Academy leadership, and careful sequencing were essential to avoid disruption to classes, events, and critical campus functions.

Through strategic planning and collaboration with the school’s facilities team, the project was completed safely, efficiently, and without interruption—delivering a fully modernized electrical backbone that will support the campus for years to come.