Working closely with Colby College, ARC|Architectural Resources Cambridge partnered with Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering to develop a plan to reduce the college's reliance on oil through the design of a new 15,800 s/f biomass heating plant with cogeneration. The recently completed plant burns local forest waste, sustainably harvested within a 50 mile radius of the campus, made up of treetops, branches and smaller trees, in the place of oil. The twin 400-horsepower biomass-fueled boilers produce steam used for heat, hot water, and cooking, generating up to 10% of the electricity that is now used by the entire campus.
In 2013, Colby College became the fourth college nationwide to achieve carbon neutrality, two years ahead of schedule from their goal of 2015 as published in their Climate Action Plan. The biomass plant is helping to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 70% and recently achieved LEED Gold Certification. It has been a key contributor in aiding Colby to successfully become carbon neutral.
The new building strikes a balance between complementing the existing plant and elegantly showcasing the facility's interior operations with a prominent glass enclosed façade at the south corner. "The design of the new facility fits comfortably within our campus setting and successfully calls attention to the innovative functionality of the plant itself," said Patricia Whitney, director of physical plant.