CASE STUDY:

The MIT Cogeneration project represents a ten year, forty million dollar initiative by MIT to generate its own thermal and electrical power. This new plant is projected to save the Institute millions of dollars over the life of the plant through the cogeneration technology. The power is generated by utilizing the waste heat from a gas turbine to generate steam. It is estimated that this technology is 18% more efficient than the system is replaced. The project was designed so as to celebrate its intended use while honoring the tradition of architecturally significant utility plants in the Boston-Cambridge area.

BOND has worked for the MIT Department of Facilities in the upgrade of their utility infrastructure system over the course of many years as well as throughout the campus. In addition to working within a highly congested section of the MIT campus along busy Vassar Street the project required intense coordination with abutting buildings and sensitive campus activities. Detailed protocols and mitigation planning took place to ensure no disruption to the more than 100 campus buildings that were converted over to the cogen facility once completed.

During the preconstruction phase, the BOND team worked closely with Ellenzweig Associates and MIT representatives to detail the work approach to not only constructing this major facility but also to the shutdowns and cutover procedures to bring more than 100 MIT buildings on line with the new facility. The project was a resounding success and is touted as a milestone in energy conservation by MIT.