PORTFOLIO
Washington Post Printing Plants
College Park, Maryland & Springfield, Virginia
Modernizing one plant, and constructing a new plant for converting to color printing was completed successfully utilizing a team-build delivery. Due to the critical nature of this project, Kirlin was selected by the owner to team with the engineer and general contractor prior to complete design drawings. Since the press operations are continuous, the owner selected the design and construction team based on the best qualifications and resources to keep the presses rolling.
The modernization of the Springfield plant including renovating and expanding the existing facility to accommodate four new color presses and a new production facility to house mailroom distribution and paper storage. The upgrade included replacing all ink process piping with new four color piping and reverse osmosis piping. These presses had to be available at all times therefore new 3-story presses were phased into operation and existing presses were removed one at a time. Significant construction costs were saved utilizing rooftop mounted mechanical equipment supported by the adjacent collator facility.
The new College Park plant was constructed on a green field site and encompassed 324,000 square feet. Plant utilities including specialty process piping for ink, gasses and neutralizing fluids to support four new presses. Mechanical equipment was installed via helicopter due to site restrictions. Both projects were completed ahead of schedule and allowed a new production rate of over 850,000 newspapers in a fourhour period.
