Campus Steam Decommissioning

The Campus Steam Decommissioning Project (“Project”) will improve the teaching, learning, and working environments of campus constituents by providing reliable and efficient thermal energy to facilities by replacing systems which have reached the end of their functional service life. Scope will include the addition of local boilers and the connections of additional buildings in coordination with the support of new facilities prior to the retirement of the existing steam system.

The existing steam distribution system is approximately 60 years old and is at its optimal replacement age. As part of the University’s strategic energy plan, the steam system has been incrementally decommissioned as buildings were connected to the Central Thermal System. This project decommissions the balance of the buildings, which have not been connected to the system. Furthermore, the existing steam boiler efficiency is impacted by the current minimal load, therefore overall efficiency will be enhanced. Finally, the steam system operates on a limited basis and is challenging to start up and shut down. When the campus experiences warm periods during the heating season building comfort is compromised due to system start up challenges.

The Project has been separated into two (2) packages: Package A – Campus Steam Decommissioning 2023 (“Package A”) which includes the buildings being removed from the campus steam system in 2023 (B.B. Comer Hall, Bureau of Mines #1, Bureau of Mines #2, Bureau of Mines #4, and ten Hoor Hall); and Package B – Campus Steam Decommissioning 2024 (“Package B”) which includes the buildings being removed from the campus steam system in 2024 (Foster Auditorium, Reese Phifer Hall, Hardaway Hall, and Rowand-Johnson Hall) as well as the addition of a new boiler to the East Quad Energy Plant; and the Owner Furnished Contractor Installed Equipment package for the Rooftop DX units and High Efficiency Condensing Boilers.

Package A – 2023 Steam Decommissioning will consist of the Northwest Campus Boiler Station connection to B.B. Comer Hall, connecting Bureau of Mines #1 to the central thermal energy system, Bureau of Mines #2 and Bureau of Mines #4 will replace the HVAC systems utilizing electric and/or natural gas heating, and ten Hoor Hall will add a backup boiler. After completion of this package, the steam system will still be in operation for the remaining connected buildings.

Package B – 2024 Steam Decommissioning will consist of connecting Foster Auditorium, Hardaway Hall, and Reese Phifer Hall to the central thermal energy system, Rowand-Johnson Hall to the Northwest Campus Boiler Station, and adding a new boiler to the East Quad Energy Plant.