Forty Geothermal Wells Completed at Proctor

Construction continues on new Dining Commons

By Scott Allenby, Proctor Academy
Multiple well-drilling rigs were at Proctor for weeks to drill the 40 geothermal wells that will heat and cool the new Dining Commons. Photo: Charlie Darling
Multiple well-drilling rigs were at Proctor for weeks to drill the 40 geothermal wells that will heat and cool the new Dining Commons. Photo: Charlie Darling

Construction on Proctor Academy’s new 16,000 square foot Dining Commons continues as the winter weather recedes. The project is scheduled to be complete for the start of the 2016-2017 academic year.

As the external structure takes shape, crews are shifting their attention to installing underground utilities and completion of framing. Meanwhile, other crews are in the process of drilling the geothermal wells that will be used to heat and cool the new facility. Each of the 40 geothermal wells will circulate fluid between 300 and 500 feet below ground level as a way to capture a consistent 58-degree temperature well below the earth’s surface.

Geothermal heating and cooling technology has been successfully used in Peabody House, a dormitory housing two faculty families and 16 students, built in 2009, and will create considerable cost savings for Proctor in the future. Drilling for the geothermal wells should conclude relatively soon and is another exciting investment in the school’s environmental mission statement.

Proctor appreciates the patience of the families and neighbors living nearby, as the drilling for these wells has been quite loud. For more information about the Dining Commons building  project, visit ProctorAcademy.org/Page/Giving/The-Campaign-for-Proctor or e-mail us at Communications@nullProctorAcademy.org.