Powering Growth Series: CoServ bringing electric & gas to mixed-use project in Allen

An aerial shot of the new Trammell Crow mixed-use project at Custer Road and the Sam Rayburn Tollway. Photos by KEN OLTMANN
An aerial shot of the new Trammell Crow mixed-use project at Custer Road and the Sam Rayburn Tollway. Photos by KEN OLTMANN

This year, we’re launching a new Powering Growth Series featuring high-profile developments that CoServ will power with reliable electricity and natural gas.

We’re kicking it off in Allen where a mixed-use project is being developed by Trammell Crow at the southeast corner of the Sam Rayburn Tollway and Custer Road.

Trammell Crow plans to build apartments, town homes, a park, restaurants and retail shops, in
addition to the possibility of a hotel and office space.

“This dynamic project is exciting for the city of Allen, the thousands of people who will shop and work there and the new Members who will call it home,” said Ben Crawford, CoServ’s Director of Business Development and Acquisitions.

The plans show the grocery store fronting Custer Road on the west side. The east side will have up to 1,200 apartments and 110 town homes on the southern border of the project. Ground floor retail is planned on some of the apartment buildings while the frontage along the toll road will have additional retail and restaurant pad sites. Corporate office space and a hotel are also proposed.

The center of the project will feature a large open space and water feature.

CoServ Senior Project Manager Steven Johnson oversaw the planning, design, coordination and easements for a new system of underground power lines along with multiple switch gears,
three-phase cabinets and transformers that will deliver electricity across the 60-acre site.

CoServ’s System Planning Department estimates how much power a project like this will use, based on our decades of experience powering similar projects. CoServ’s System Planning Department uses advanced modeling software and algorithms to project anticipated demand from different types of buildings to ensure there’s enough electricity to serve it. Steven said it’s important when designing modern retail projects like this to balance the known capacity needs of today with the planned capacity needs of the future while controlling costs.

The apartments alone are anticipated to draw a maximum load of more than 9,000 kilowatts.

CoServ Gas also installed new two, four, and six-inch gas lines across the site that will serve future Customers. The grocery store will use natural gas for its back-up power generator as well as cooking, heating and hot water. Various restaurants will require natural gas for cooking. The apartments and townhomes could have swimming pools and grills that need gas as well, Steven explained.

By September, CoServ had completed most of the primary electric and gas infrastructure installation.

“This Trammell Crow project is a great example of the type of quality service and innovation that CoServ is known for delivering and why we are the third-largest electric co-op in the country,” Ben said.

What does this mean to me?

CoServ partners with landowners, developers, cities and school districts to power the growth and economic development in North Texas. Bringing these projects to life takes coordination between CoServ engineers, project managers, linemen, gas technicians as well as city officials and developers.

Look for more exciting projects coming this year as part of the Powering Growth Series. We are proud to be doing our part to power the growth in North Texas.

Electrical infrastructure has been installed, including several switch gears that will serve future apartments.
Electrical infrastructure has been installed, including several switch gears that will serve future apartments.