Beloit College Powerhouse

Beloit, WI

Beloit College Powerhouse | A 130,000 square foot, five-level, first-of-its-kind facility housed in a historical building. The 100-year-old decommissioned coal-fired power plant was renovated into a student gathering and recreational center. This project involved removal of two 6-story boilers, preservation of historic powerplant elements including cranes, coal hoppers and crushers, water intake piping, control panels, and a 100’ smokestack, and installation of a geothermal heating system that uses radiant panels energized by river water, significantly reducing total energy use. The new facility has a swimming pool, fitness center, auditorium, study areas, a café, and an event space for 200 people. Student centers aren’t supposed to look this way. Neither are decommissioned power plants. But this collaborative project did just that, a symbol of industrial heritage and educational future.