Stanford Central Energy Facility

At the heart of Stanford University’s transformational, campus-wide energy system is a new, technologically advanced central energy facility. The system replaces a 100 percent fossil-fuel-based cogeneration plant with primarily electrical power—65 percent of which comes from renewable sources—and a first of its kind heat recovery system, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fossil fuel and water use. The facility comprises a net positive energy administrative building, a heat recovery chiller plant, a cooling and heating plant, a service yard, and a new campus-wide main electrical substation. Designed to sensitively integrate into the surrounding campus, the architectural expression is one of lightness, transparency and sustainability to express the facility’s purpose.

Olson Services: Detailing, fabrication, structural steel, miscellaneous metals, steel erection

Owner: Stanford University

Architect: ZGF Architects LLP

Structural Engineer: Rutherford + Chekene

Client: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Articles/Awards: 2017 COTE Top Ten Sustainable Design Excellence, Architecture MasterPrize, 2016 AIA Honor Award, 2016 Global Best Green Project Award - ENR