This plant not only provides the reliable chilled water for southeast zone buildings, but also has become an elegant gateway for the southeast part of campus. The facade of the building makes it not easily recognizable as a chiller plant. The exterior walls are constructed with brick and masonry, large windows, and a metal roof with overhang. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the plant and a wider sidewalk.
Watterson Towers and Stevenson Hall were both constructed in 1968 and the mechanical equipment that provides chilled water to air condition each building is original. These mechanical systems have exceeded their useful life and are now unreliable.
As part of the Energy Management Utility Infrastructure Improvement Plan, construction of the new facility will enhance both the energy management and operation of Watterson Towers and Stevenson Hall. The fiscal source of the construction project comes both from bond revenue and the Capital Development Board with a budget cost of $4.8 million.
This project involves replacing all the chilled water equipment in Watterson Towers and Stevenson Hall and constructing a new single satellite Chilled Water facility which will accommodate the new equipment.
The Chilled Water Zone facility is located at 309 West Beaufort Street, which is across the street from the south side of Watterson and Stevenson Hall.
