This major addition/renovation project improved facilities for a large rural health education program, involving students from multiple health professions. Medical, pharmacy, public health, and native American health are key emphases.
- The sustainable design incorporates a hybrid ground-source heat pump system, using 56 closed-loop geothermal wells to satisfy 80% of the building’s heating and cooling requirements.
- High-efficiency chillers and condensing boilers handle peak cooling and heating requirements that cannot be met by the heat pump system.
- A 450-ton cooling tower provides heat rejection for the geothermal loads and additional capacity for the existing building’s 300-ton chiller plant.
- The control system features a Web User Interface to integrate with the UIC campus automation system.
- The addition saves 26% on energy costs compared with ASHRAE Standard 90, earning the campus five of a possible of 10 LEED credits for energy efficiency. LEED Silver certification was achieved.
