The Auburn University Board of Trustees approved the addition of a new chilled water plant during their meeting on Friday, Sept. 4. This chilled water plant would replace the existing one on campus.
These water plants provide water to a variety of on-campus buildings and facilities.
“The last district amenity plant was built in 2008. Since that time, the significant growth of the Auburn campus has caused the demand for chilled water to increase,” said Simon Yendle, University architect. “As projected, within the next few years, the campus utility system will not be able to adequately cool University buildings without additional chilled water production capacity.”
According to Yendle, the current chilled water plant in Auburn is aging and inadequate and would be replaced by the new plant. The new plant would be built on the south side of campus, on the northwest corner of Lem Morrison Drive and South Donahue Drive, in support of anticipated growth in that area.
“The new chilled water plant will construct an approximately 7,200 square foot building, which will house two 2500 ton chiller units, with a future expansion capacity for a third chiller unit,” Yendle said. “It will also include the demolition of chilled water plant one, which is up by the GAVIN engineering building.”
The estimated budget for the new chilled water plant is $24,000,000, and would be financed by University bonds and general University funds.
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