Fanshawe College, in collaboration with Doherty Engineering, EllisDon and Modern Niagara, has announced the completion of the first phase of its Campus Energy Centre (CEC) project.
This phase, marked by the commissioning of a state-of-the-art chilled water facility, is a cornerstone of the College’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Roadmap and Action Plan, which aims to reduce GHG emissions by 50 per cent below 2013 levels by 2050.
“This project is more than just an upgrade; it’s a commitment to a sustainable future for our students and the community,” said 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. This initiative not only aligns with Canada’s Climate Action Plan but also significantly reduces Fanshawe’s carbon footprint. Students already study in cutting-edge learning spaces; future students will also use facilities that contribute to the fight against climate change impacts. Successfully executing a project of this scale requires expert collaboration, and we are fortunate to have the support of Doherty Engineering, EllisDon, and Modern Niagara.”
EllisDon, in partnership with Modern Niagara, is spearheading the construction efforts, including pre-construction planning, installation, commissioning, and testing. Once complete, the CEC, which contains 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.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with a forward-thinking institution like Fanshawe College,” said Anderson Rosario, project manager at EllisDon Southwestern Ontario. “This project replaces outdated systems with advanced solutions designed to support generations of students and staff, ensuring a more comfortable and reliable indoor environment.”
Along with building the new Campus Energy Centre, the project includes extensive retrofits of several existing buildings, removing traditional chillers and boilers and installing Energy Transfer Stations. Modern Niagara has also installed more than 1.5 km of specialized, pre-insulated underground piping throughout the campus. This phased approach, with major work scheduled during the summer, ensured minimal disruption to campus activities while addressing aging equipment and capacity issues.
The long-term benefits of the new system go beyond GHG emission reductions. It will also provide cost-effective, efficient energy with stronger redundancies for the College.
The next phases of the project will involve developing a geothermal borehole field and installing heat pumps within the CEC. These phases emphasize Fanshawe’s long-term commitment to sustainability and innovation.
