A new chilled water facility at Fanshawe College marks the first phase of a multi-year sustainability initiative, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent below 2013 levels by 2050.

Fanshawe is working alongside Doherty Engineering, EllisDon and Modern Niagara on the Campus Energy Centre (CEC) project that will transform Fanshawe’s energy infrastructure.

Once complete, the CEC, which houses three, 1,000-ton chillers that provide cooling to more than two million square feet of campus buildings, will also supply heating with the addition of electric hot water boilers as part of a 10.5 MW geothermal and heat pump district energy system.

“This project replaces outdated systems with advanced solutions designed to support generations of students and staff, ensuring a more comfortable and reliable indoor environment,” said Anderson Rosario, project manager at EllisDon Southwestern Ontario.

The new chilled water facility at Fanshawe College.

Plans also entail retrofits of several existing buildings, removing traditional chillers and boilers and installing energy transfer stations. Modern Niagara has already installed more than 1.5 km of specialized, pre-insulated underground piping throughout the campus.

“When you consider the scale of this project, we’re essentially overhauling the energy distribution for a small city,” said Glen Marsland, construction manager at Modern Niagara, a member of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario.

The next phases of the project will involve developing a geothermal borehole field and installing heat pumps within the CEC.

“This project is more than just an upgrade; it’s a commitment to a sustainable future for our students and the community,” added Jay Dillman, project coordinator at Fanshawe College. “As institutions across the country rethink how they power their campuses, we’re proud to lead the way with this transformative project.”