Shinn Mechanical Inc.

Shinn Mechanical Inc.
13301 SE 26th Street
Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: (425) 373-9800
Fax: (425) 373-3449

Shinn Mechanical believes that tools and materials are the cheapest things you put on the job, so they don't mind investing in tools. "That is what makes it nice to work for Mike," you don't have to fight for your ideas - he doesn't bat an eye when it comes to spending money on tools."

During the first phase of work, one of Shinn Mechanical's pipe fitters brought in a picture from the late 1940s of his father who worked as a laborer when the existing tunnel was initially installed. The father was standing in the exact spot where the crew had been working that day. At the time the photo was taken, the tunnel was mined using mule teams and a great deal of manual labor. Fifty years later, the pipe was lowered by a remote-controlled boom truck. This allowed the boom truck operator to be inside the tunnel where the pipe was lowered onto pipe supports safely and efficiently.

Operation of the remote-controlled boom truck was a one-man operation until the $8,000 remote
went out. During the two-week period it was being repaired, operation of the boom truck continued only now it took a four-man crew to complete the work.

"The Utility Tunnel Extension gives the University of Washington the capability to loop and tie into the hospital," said Mike Shinn, president of Shinn Mechanical, "which gives them back-up flexibility for a redundant system." It also gives the University of Washington the much-needed capacity to expand for the future.

In addition to the challenges of tight working conditions, Shinn Mechanical, like all University of Washington contractors, had to be careful to minimize the impacts of construction on local businesses and community members, while at the same time trying not to disrupt research and the work of the university. Minimizing those impacts and blending the needs of contractors, campus and community requires a lot of coordination and communication.

"Our crew had to be focused on the work, yet remain flexible to the needs of others," said Shinn. "It takes a team effort to get the pipe in. You have to have the right people who are well-trained and who you can count on."

These custom fabricated fittings were chopped and
welded at 90 degree angles.

The second phase of work required the installation of a 40' x 25' vault that branched out to the
existing tunnel and new buildings. A 500-foot tunnel was bored by Frank Coluccio Construction Company from the vault to the existing tunnel. The new tunnel crosses under NE Pacific Street,
follows along University Way until it ties into the existing tunnel. Two cast-in-place concrete utility trenches were then channeled from the vault to the Oceanography and Fisheries buildings respectively. Shinn Mechanical, who was running an eight-man crew, was then able to install the 9,000 feet of utility lines.

Shinn Mechanical began working on site in December 1996 and the project's expected completion date is November 1997. "We expect to be finished on time," said Shinn.

Questions/Comments?: shinnadmin@shinnmechanical.com Copyright © 1999 Shinn Mechanical Last modified: March 23, 2000

Questions/Comments?: shinnadmin@shinnmechanical.com
Copyright © 1999 Shinn Mechanical
Last modified: March 23, 2000