The ARH Highlands Central Utility Plant in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, is a new, purpose-built facility designed to provide reliable, campus-wide mechanical and electrical infrastructure for a regional healthcare system. Shrout Tate Wilson served as the lead designer and mechanical and electrical engineers, delivering a fully integrated design that includes central chilled water and heating systems, boilers, and hydronic distribution to support critical hospital operations.

The project features robust electrical distribution with a standby power system designed for continuous operation of essential healthcare loads. Advanced controls and BACnet-based building automation systems enable centralized monitoring and efficient plant operation, while comprehensive commissioning of HVAC, electrical, and domestic water systems ensures performance, reliability, and long-term maintainability. Extensive coordination of new and existing utilities—including electrical, telecommunications, and fuel systems—was required to maintain uninterrupted hospital service throughout construction, resulting in a resilient, high-performance infrastructure solution tailored to the demands of a modern healthcare campus.