Tempe District Utility Plant (TDUP)

The full build-out of the 20,000 SF remote plant provides additional electrical, chilled, and heating hot water capacity to meet the current and future needs of surrounding campus facilities. The plant will also be the main source of power and glycol infrastructure for the new Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, also completed by Willmeng. Both TDUP and TES projects are key components to support ASU’s research and academic missions, providing low-carbon solutions for utilities. Upon completion, the plant will produce 9,000 tons of cooling capacity, while the TES tank will be able to store 30,000 ton-hours of cooling for use during peak times.

What makes this project unique is that it sits in the heart of the ASU’s new developments. The facility’s boundary is a mere 4 inches from the new residence hall (also under construction) and within feet of multiple buildings. Such a tight footprint has required creative planning and over communication to manage complexity.