Construction for Ball State's geothermal heat pump system can finally begin, according to an announcement made last week that awarded a contractor the first leg of the project.
Messer Construction, also the contractor for the renovation of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, received the bid for the first location of construction.
"We're very excited to be a part of one of the largest geothermal construction projects in the country, especially for an institution of higher education," Pat Kinder, senior project executive for Messer Construction, said. "We're really pleased to be doing another job with Ball State."
The drilling of 1,750 wells in the athletic fields southwest of Anthony Apartments and the parking lot west of Carmichael Hall is projected to begin around the first week of July.
Meanwhile, preparatory work is being done to ready the site for construction, Jim Lowe, director of engineering and operation, said. This includes securing the site to maximize erosion control.
"It's very important to protect run-off. We don't want any sediment getting into nearby water sources," Lowe said.
Students interested in the construction can go to Ball State's Web site to get updates as well as watch the construction from webcams mounted on top of Anthony Apartments and Johnson B dormitory.
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