The project: The University at Buffalo has recently undergone a Campus Wide Clean Energy and Electrification Master Plan to develop a pathways for decarbonizing their South Campus. Currently, the majority of buildings on the South Campus are served by the large district steam plant for heating and two interconnected district chiller plants for cooling.

The goal: The master plan recommended that the Campus be separated into five clusters, each being fed from a fully electrified, fossil fuel free, heat pump central plant with the end goal of interconnecting all five clusters with a common neutral district water loop that can serve as each central plant’s heat source and heat sink. IMEG is the engineer of record for the design and implementation of the first two cluster heat pump plants, ‘Energy HUBs’, which will be located in Clark Hall and Parker Hall.

Clark Hall: The Clark Hall Cluster Energy HUB will provide 700 tons of cooling to Clark Hall proper, the Howe Research (Pharmacy) Building, and the Windspear Buildings, comprising approximately 250,000-sf of building space. The Energy HUB will be built out over time, with Phase 1 accounting for 350 tons of cooling delivered from a modular water to water heat pump solution capable of providing both chilled water and 140F water temperature for heating. The geothermal field to support this plant will be designed in two phases. Phase 1 will comprise of 120 vertical boreholes, each at 750 feet deep.

Parker Hall: The Parker Hall Cluster Energy HUB will provide 900 tons of cooling to Parker Hall proper, Hayes Hall, Hayes Hall Annex, Wende Hall, Townsend Hall, and Beck Hall, comprising approximately 360,000-sf of building space. The Energy HUB will be built out over time, with Phase 1 accounting for 300 tons of cooling delivered from a modular water to water heat pump solution capable of providing both chilled water and 140F water temperature for heating. The geothermal field to support this plant will be designed in multiple phases. Phase 1 will comprise of 200 vertical boreholes, each at 500 feet deep.

Other services: In addition to the central plant and associated geothermal field designs, IMEG is providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering and deep energy retrofit services for both building renovations.

The outcome:

  • Phase 1 — District Geothermal
  • Central Plant Upgrades
  • Electrified Building System Upgrades