The Mount Holyoke Campus seen from above, with Lower Lake in the foreground and rolling hills in the background

Geothermal Energy Project

This summer, Mount Holyoke College will break ground on a bold geothermal energy project. This project—to be implemented in phases between 2023 and 2030—will replace our 100-year-old fossil fuel powered steam heating system with a geothermal heat-exchange system powered by clean electricity, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.

The first phase will connect Shattuck, Cleveland, Carr, Kendade, Safford and Skinner to the new distribution system. On May 30, 2023, construction fencing will start appearing across campus, from Kendade to Skinner, and excavation for the new distribution piping will follow.

Project Update – October 9, 2023

General Update

All pedestrian pathways and vehicular roadways are open. All restored grass areas have been opened for the campus event. After the event, the areas will be roped off again until lawns are established.

Surveys will occur in select buildings. Separate notifications have been distributed to impacted occupants.

Skinner Hall

Piping installation and testing will continue in the Skinner Hall mechanical room.

Kendade Science Center

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue at Kendade Science Center.

Safford Hall

Mechanical work will continue.

Please reach out to geothermal@mtholyoke.edu if there are any questions or concerns.

General Update

Skinner Hall

Piping installation will continue in the Skinner Hall mechanical room.

Kendade Science Center

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue at Kendade Science Center.

Safford Hall

Painting of stairs will occur at the west entrance.

Mechanical work will continue.

General Update

Line striping will occur at the Skinner Hall parking spaces on Tuesday, September 26. Please note, parking spaces will be blocked off the evening of Monday, September 25 to prepare for this activity.

Skinner Hall

Piping installation will continue in the Skinner Hall mechanical room.

Lighting will begin to be installed.

A water shutdown is currently scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 27 and be complete by end of day Thursday, September 28. A separate notification will also be distributed to building occupants.

Kendade Science Center

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue at Kendade Science Center.

Safford Hall

Painting of stairs will occur at the west entrance.

Please reach out to geothermal@mtholyoke.edu if there are any questions or concerns.

General Update

All pedestrian pathways and vehicular roadways are open. All restored grass areas are roped off until lawns are established.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Piping installation will continue in the Skinner Hall mechanical room.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue at Kendade Science Center.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Painting of stairs will occur at the west entrance.

Safford / Brigham Green

Pedestrian pathway paving is complete.

Abbey Green

Pedestrian pathways have reopened.

General Update

All pedestrian pathways and vehicular roadways are open. All restored grass areas are roped off until lawns are established.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Piping installation will continue in the Skinner Hall mechanical room.

Watering of the site will continue.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue at Kendade Science Center.

Pedestrian pathways have reopened.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Safford / Brigham Green

Pedestrian pathway paving is complete.

Abbey Green

Pedestrian pathways have reopened.

General Update

All pedestrian pathways and vehicular roadways are open. All restored site areas are roped off until lawns have been established.

Skinner Green

Restoration of the site is complete.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue in the mechanical space at Kendade Science Center.

Pedestrian pathways have reopened.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Safford / Brigham Green

Pedestrian pathway paving is complete.

Installation of stairs on the west elevation is complete.

Abbey Green

Restoration of the site is complete.

General Update

Gateway Road has been paved and re-opened to traffic.

Blanchard circle will be paved the week of August 28th.

Skinner Green

Restoration of the site will continue.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue at Kendade Science Center.

Pathways on Kendade Green have been re-opened to pedestrians.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Safford / Brigham Green

Paving of pathways will occur.

Installation of stairs will take place at Safford Hall.

Abbey Green

Pathways have been re-opened to pedestrians.

General Update

Paving of Gateway Road is scheduled for Monday, August 21 requiring closure of the road to traffic until completion of the activity.

Blanchard Circle will be paved on Tuesday, August 22 and Wednesday, August 23. The closure from Blanchard Circle to Porter Hall will remain in place.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Restoration of the site will continue.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue at Kendade Science Center.

Restoration of Kendade Green will continue.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Safford / Brigham Green

Restoration of the site will continue.

Installation of stairs will occur at Safford Hall.

Abbey Green

Restoration of the site will continue.

General Update

Paving of Gateway Road is scheduled for Monday, August 21. Closures may be in place during this activity.

The closure from Blanchard Circle to Porter Hall will remain in place.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Restoration of the site will take place.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Installation of piping and other equipment will continue in the mechanical room of Kendade Science Center.

Restoration of Kendade Green will occur, including restoration of sign kiosks, pavers, and the pathway.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Safford / Brigham Green

Restoration of the site will continue.

Abbey Green

Restoration of the site will continue.

General Update

The pathway closure from Blanchard Circle to Porter Hall will remain in place.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Piping activities will take place on Skinner Green..

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Loading and installation of piping will continue at the basement level at Kendade Science Center.

Restoration of Kendade Green will occur.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Excavation and installation of piping will continue along Blanchard Circle to Porter / Safford.

Safford / Brigham Green

Restoration of the site will take place.

Abbey Green

Restoration of the site will take place.

Please reach out to geothermal@mtholyoke.edu if there are any questions or concerns.

General Update

Fencing will be relocated to the excavation area next to Porter Hall.

The closure from Blanchard Circle to Porter Hall will remain in place.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Staging and fusing of piping will take place on Skinner Green.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Loading of piping and other equipment will continue at the basement level at Kendade Science Center, as well as installation of piping.

Conduit lighting repairs will take place on Kendade Green, as well as backfilling activities.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Excavation and installation of piping will continue along Blanchard Circle to Porter Hall.

Safford / Brigham Green

Backfilling of pipe installation areas will occur.

Pouring and forming of a stair landing pad will occur on the west side of Safford Hall.

Abbey Green

Backfilling of excavation areas will take place after piping has been installed.

Please reach out to geothermal@mtholyoke.edu if there are any questions or concerns.

General Update

Fence configuration will not be relocated this week, and there are no new changes to building or pedestrian access routes.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Staging and fusing of piping will take place.

Exterior wall repairs will occur on Skinner Hall.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Loading of piping and other equipment will continue at the basement level at Kendade Science Center, as well as installation of piping.

Conduit lighting repairs will take place on Kendade Green.

Safford Hall

Piping installation will continue in the east mechanical room.

Excavation activities will occur along Blanchard Circle and will continue into the exterior wall of Safford to connect with piping in the east mechanical room.

Abbey Green

Fusing and installation of piping will occur.

Backfilling of excavation areas will take place after piping has been installed.

Safford / Brigham Green

Coring into Brigham will occur.

Installation of hot and chilled water lines will take place, followed by backfilling of piping areas.

Please reach out to geothermal@mtholyoke.edu if there are any questions or concerns.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Activities are ongoing under the stairs in Skinner Hall.

The road in front of Skinner Hall will has been paved and re-opened.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Pouring of concrete pads is ongoing at Kendade.

Backfilling of excavation areas, and installation of piping will continue on Kendade Green within the fenced in area.

Safford Hall

Demolition activities will take place in the building in Kleeberg.

Safford / Brigham Green

Backfilling of excavation areas will take place within the fenced in area.

Abby Green

Excavation activities will occur.

General Update

The front entrance of Clapp Hall will remain open to pedestrians.

The area between Safford Hall and Brigham Hall will be fenced off through early July, while maintaining handicap ramp and pedestrian access to Brigham Hall.

Skinner Hall & Skinner Green

Activities are ongoing under the stairs in Skinner Hall.

Backfilling of excavation areas, and installation of piping will continue on Skinner Green within the fenced in area.

Kendade Science Center & Kendade Green

Coring into the buildings foundation is ongoing at Kendade.

Backfilling of excavation areas, and installation of piping will continue on Kendade Green within the fenced in area.

Safford Hall

Demolition activities will take place in the building towards the end of June.

Safford/Brigham Green

Excavation activities and installation of piping will take place within the fenced in area.

General Update

The front entrance of Clapp Hall will remain open to pedestrians.

The area between Safford Hall and Brigham Hall will be fenced off through early July, while maintaining handicap ramp and pedestrian access to Brigham Hall.

The road in front of Skinner Hall will re-open on Wednesday, June 21.

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