In 2011 Bell Mechanical expanded its operations to the state of Virginia undertaking the general construction contract for the City of Norfolk’s central utility plant upgrades project. The project involved major upgrades to the City’s existing central utility plant to allow for the future heating and cooling loads for the brand new 15 story City of Norfolk Consolidated Courthouse. Bell worked closely with the City’s engineering staff to phase the shutdowns and turnover of critical heating and cooling equipment which served multiple government facilities in the downtown area. Work included demolition, structural steel and concrete work, electrical power and DDC controls upgrades, new boilers, boiler retrofits, new four cell cooling tower, heat exchangers and over 50 retrofit heating and cooling coil replacements throughout the City’s occupied Jail, Courthouse and City Hall.