Spillman Farmer Architects

Central Energy Plant

Central Energy Plant
© Steve Wolfe Photography

CENTRAL ENERGY PLANT

Spillman Farmer Architects

AREA
6300 ft²

LOCATION
Carlisle, United States

PROJECT YEAR
2009

CATEGORY
Energy Plant

Text description provided by architect.

Dickinson College’s program for its Central Energy Plant addition was straightforward: extend the existing 80,000 SF building to accommodate the boilers and cooling towers required to serve the campus’ energy requirements.

Central Energy Plant
© Steve Wolfe Photography
Central Energy Plant
© Steve Wolfe Photography

The College asked that the addition, a 6,300 SF building determined by the size of the equipment housed within, reveal the functionality of the building rather than conceal its operations.

The architect’s challenge was to respond to the client’s program and create an extension that respected the existing structure but was not dominated by it.

The new building is a layered dance of brick and aluminum. At the east elevation, a stair tower marks a subtle transition from the existing to the new; here, a full-height brick wall continues the mass of the original building. As the corner is turned, the brick is progressively subtracted until it becomes

Central Energy Plant
© Steve Wolfe Photography
Central Energy Plant
© Steve Wolfe Photography

A low wall on the west elevation. In its place, continuing to define the space, is an aluminum veil that is visually both solid and sheer.

Its solidity completes the block form and its sheerness allows views into the functional spaces (cooling towers) within.

The horizontal layering also suggests the building’s vertical layering. The masonry wall envelops, but does not hide, the structural elements placed independently behind it.

Central Energy Plant
© Steve Wolfe Photography
Central Energy Plant
© Steve Wolfe Photography

The aluminum veil is loosely hung on the structure. Throughout, the building shows clear evidence of how it is made, its materiality expressed and unadorned.


Central Energy Plant
Detailed Render 01
Central Energy Plant
Detailed Render 02


Central Energy Plant
Wall Section
Central Energy Plant
Site Plan
Central Energy Plant
Floor Plan

Spillman Farmer Architects
T +1 610 8652621 -
Spillman Farmer Architects
1720 Spillman Dr, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States