Tufts University Central Energy Plant

About Tufts University Central Energy Plant

435 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA

Tufts University’s new Central Energy Plant will replace the university’s existing 60 year old energy plant and will contain updated and efficient technology. The new plant will provide Tufts University’s Medford campus with 4 MW of power. The new plant will feature three high-efficiency boilers and a large cooling tower. The new plant will generate electricity, steam, hot water for heating and chilled water for cooling. The new plant’s technology will be showcased to the community through a glass facade facing Boston Avenue.

The new plant will reduce Tufts University’s energy costs by approximately 20%. The new plant will also reduce Tufts University’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 12%. The existing plant will be demolished and replaced with green space.

Construction on the new CEP on Boston Avenue next to Dowling Hall, began in the spring of 2015, and is managed by O’Connor Constructors. The CEP was initially slated to open in the fall of 2016, but its timetable fell significantly behind schedule due to weather-related setbacks and the difficulties of building on the steep terrain of the build site, according to the Director of University Energy Project Randy Preston.

Preston, who oversaw the design and construction of the plant, nevertheless expressed confidence that the CEP will be operational around April, 2018.

The following are exterior renderings of Tufts University’s new Central Energy Plant:

View from Boston Avenue

View from Boston Avenue towards Dowling Hall

View from across Boston Avenue

View from up hill