In The Community
College Facility Recognized for Sustainable Design
WENDELL, N.C. (February 14, 2025) – The Central Energy Plant at Wake Tech East in Wendell has received a SPACE Award from the Triangle Business Journal for exemplary sustainable design and construction.
Designed by HH Architecture and constructed by Skanska, the 15,700-square-foot facility includes numerous energy-saving features and set new standards in sustainable design and collaboration. It features 297 geothermal wells and provides heating and cooling for the entire campus. It is one of the largest geothermal well installations in the Southeast.
The SPACE Awards recognize the best in Triangle commercial real estate. The awards were presented February 13 at the Horseshoe at Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park.
The Central Energy Plant has received numerous national recognitions. It is the first facility in North Carolina to earn Four Green Globes® certification and won the 2023 Green Globes® Project of the Year. It also received awards from the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) in 2024.
Sustainable features of the building include:
- Sustainable building materials
- Nearly 300 geothermal wells that create a district heating and cooling system where water is pumped underground to all buildings, reducing the energy needed to heat and cool the campus
- Rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity
- High-efficiency lighting design
- Natural daylight and connection to nature
- Low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials, such as paint, sealers and cleaning products, which make the air healthier to breathe
- Electric vehicle charging stations
Wake Tech East is the college's seventh campus location in Wake County, offering degrees in arts and sciences for university transfer, as well as engineering, EMS and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technology.
