r_b arc designs modular water chiller plant at OSU

r_b arc designs modular water chiller plant at OSU
all images courtesy of r_b arc

‘the south campus central chiller plant’ by american firm ross_barney architects will provide the medical medical district of the ohio state university in columbus with a long term, efficient and sustainable solution for chilled water production and distribution. addressing durability and redundancy with a modular design and all the critical equipment needed to maintain 12,500 tons of chilled water, emergency power will be installed so as to have chilled water for critical operations during power outages. the ultimate capacity of the chiller plant will be 30,000 tons of chilled water and at phase one there will be a minimum of 15,000 tons for the new cancer and critical care tower installed. this will all be remotely controlled at the central power plant with robust industrial control systems. constructed in the current location of a surface parking lot west of the college of pharmacy, the site is currently below the flood plain and will require underground utility relocations and the location of critical equipment above this elevation. the new building will serve as an iconic anchor for this future intersection. large glazed openings are located to help identify the function of the building by framing views of the chiller equipment, the facade of concrete precast panels has a high sheen polish finish. dichroic glass fins located in the joints of these precast panels, will convey a sense of motion as the colors change from the movement of the sun. incorporating sustainable principals ‘the central chiller plant’ has been constructed with the planning of leed certification. the visible location, at the edge of the university campus, means pedestrian movement along cannon must be considered as an important pathway to the main campus. to reinforce this, the landscaping around the building will consist of a plaza and landform seating area to engage the pedestrian traffic. the new building will serve as an iconic anchor for the cannon drive and future extension of kinnear road.

the building provides a long term, efficient and sustainable solution for chilled water production and distribution

the ultimate capacity of the chiller plant will be 30,000 tons of chilled water

large glazed openings are located to help identify the function of the building by framing views of the chiller equipment

the new building will serve as an iconic anchor for a future intersection

the facade of concrete precast panels has a high sheen polish finish

dichoric glass fins, will convey a sense of motion as the colors change from the movement of the sun

view of precast concrete panels and fins

the current location is a surface parking lot west of the college of pharmacy

all equipment will be remotely controlled at the central power plant with robust industrial control systems

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