About

App State’s Innovation District will be powered by a zero-carbon district energy system that will begin to transition the university’s Boone campus away from steam power. App State has a long-established reputation as a leader in the renewable energy space, and the university is exploring renewable energy options that will establish a national example for sustainable energy solutions.

This system will generate and distribute renewable energy to support all planned facilities located in the district, including the STEM Academic Building and faculty and staff housing, which are under construction as part of the project’s first development phase.

Expected to be operational in 2025, the energy system is being designed as a flexible, modular system that can accommodate new energy technologies as the district grows. Initially, the system will comprise the following components:

• Two wind turbines that will contribute a combined 1.2 megawatts of wind power.
• Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels capable of generating 120 kilowatts of power.
• A geothermal heating and cooling system consisting of 90 geothermal wells, geothermal heat pump chillers and wastewater heat recovery tanks.
• A central plant for managing the distribution of heating, cooling and electricity within the district.

App State’s Innovation District initiative will bring together expertise across disciplines and facilitate collaborations on campus and with the communities throughout the region, extending the university’s mission of teaching, research and service, preparing the workforce of today and building the workforce of tomorrow. The project is expected to have a lasting and powerful impact on the entire region, broadening economic development opportunities across Northwestern North Carolina. Learn more about App State’s Innovation District project.

This conceptual rendering depicts what the Phase 1 components of App State’s Innovation District might look like, once completed. The control building for the district’s zero-carbon energy system is displayed at left. Solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies will power the district’s energy system. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

This artist’s rendering presents a view of the STEM Academic Building from one of the gardens planned for the facility's home, App State’s Innovation District. Note, designs for the building (formerly referred to as the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research) are still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

An artist’s rendering of the control building for the App State Innovation District’s zero-carbon energy system. The building’s glass facade will allow Innovation District visitors to view the system’s geothermal heat pump chillers. The building will also feature an immersion room, with displays that highlight the system’s wind and solar energy production. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

This artist's rendering depicts a design concept for faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District, as part of the project's Phase 1 development. Image courtesy of Radnor Property Group

Status

Construction of the Innovation District’s first phase of development is underway, and the zero-carbon district energy system is slated for completion in 2025. Phase 1 construction began in late July 2023, with the installation of erosion control fences and the removal of trees.

Internal piping, wiring and HVAC work continues for the building that will serve as a control center for the district’s zero-carbon energy system — currently referred to as the District Energy System (DES) Building. Workers have installed the building’s external viewing window, as well as two new wind turbines that are part of the district’s zero-carbon energy system. Additionally, construction is underway for the multistory buildings that will house App State faculty/staff, and the university will soon begin construction of the Innovation District’s STEM Academic Building.

App State has entered a public-private partnership (P3) agreement with Harrison Street Real Estate LLC, which was approved by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors in January 2023. Harrison Street is responsible for the development, construction and operation of the district’s zero-carbon energy system.

In July 2022, the board approved the pre-development letter of intent for the district’s first phase, as well as App State’s pursuit of P3 agreements for both the energy system and the faculty and staff housing.

App State ceremoniously broke ground on the first phase of development for the Innovation District — beginning with the STEM Academic Building — on March 25, 2022.

This photo, taken in December 2024, shows construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District. This housing is part of the district’s Phase 1 development. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

A front view of the District Energy System Building, which is under construction as part of Phase 1 development at App State’s Innovation District. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

An aerial view of construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District, as of Nov. 18, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction work for one of two new wind turbines at App State’s Innovation District is shown in this aerial image, taken Nov. 18, 2024. The turbines are part of the zero-carbon energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities with solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. App State’s Jim and Bettie Smith Baseball Stadium is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Two new wind turbines are being installed at App State’s Innovation District, as part of the district’s zero-carbon energy system. This image offers a close-up view of one of the turbine bases. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

This aerial view shows construction progress for the first development phase at App State’s Innovation District, as of Nov. 18, 2024. Vertical construction of the district’s faculty and staff housing facilities is visible at center. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Installation of two new wind turbines has begun at App State’s Innovation District, as shown in this aerial photo, taken Nov. 18, 2024. The turbines are part of the zero-carbon energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities with solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. The existing wind turbine located at App State’s Innovation District is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Pictured Nov. 20, 2024, workers assemble one of two new wind turbines at App State’s Innovation District. The turbines are part of the zero-carbon energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities. The system will feature solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. Photo by Troy Tuttle

A worker, left, is pictured next to the rotor blades of one of two new wind turbines that are being installed at the App State Innovation District, as part of the district’s zero-carbon energy system. The system, once completed, will feature solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies that will power the district’s facilities. Photo by Troy Tuttle

Vertical construction is underway for the Phase 1 faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District site, as shown in this Sept. 10, 2024 photo. Photo by Wes Craig

A street-level view of the construction that is underway for Phase 1 faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District. This image was taken Sept. 11, 2024. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities and Operations

An aerial view of the Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig

This image, taken Sept. 11, 2024, shows the interior work taking place for the District Energy System Building at App State's Innovation District. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities and Operations

An aerial view of Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of Aug. 13, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig

Foundation work for the multistory buildings that will house App State faculty/staff at the university's Innovation District — part of the district's Phase 1 development — is shown in this July 2024 aerial photo. Photo submitted

This panoramic photo, taken July 15, 2024, shows the construction progress for the first phase of development at App State's Innovation District. The control building for the district’s zero-carbon energy system, which is under construction as part of Phase 1 development, is visible near the top center of the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Phase 1 construction work at App State's Innovation District progresses on schedule, as shown in this aerial image taken June 19, 2024. The control building for the district’s zero-carbon energy system — part of the district's first development phase — is shown at right in the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of the Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of June 19, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction work is underway for the Innovation District's energy system control building, as shown in this June 19, 2024, photo. Workers are pictured installing roofing panels to the building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken May 16, 2024. The steel structural frame for the district's energy system control building is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of the Phase 1 construction work taking place at App State's Innovation District, located at the top of Bodenheimer Drive on the Boone campus. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

The structural steel frame is in place for the control building for the district’s zero-carbon energy system, as shown in this May, 16, 2024, photo. Work to apply the exterior of the building will soon begin. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Workers are shown installing framing for the energy system control building at App State’s Innovation District in this photo, taken April 25, 2024. Appalachian State University photo

Construction is underway for the zero-carbon energy system control building at App State's Innovation District, as shown in this aerial photo, taken April 23, 2024. The foundation for the building has been set, and workers are pictured installing underground utilities for the building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress for the first phase of development at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken April 23, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of March 12, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress on the first phase of development for App State’s Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken Feb. 20, 2024. Recent construction work at the site includes the drilling of geothermal wells, which are part of a geothermal system that will serve both the faculty and staff housing and the STEM Academic Building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

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How is it funded?

The district’s zero-carbon energy system will be supported through a public-private partnership (P3) that does not rely upon state funds, or any capital from the university.

Who will benefit?

All those who visit and take part in App State’s Innovation District — from faculty, staff and students to partner organizations in the local and regional communities — will benefit from the zero-carbon energy system component of the project, as the system will power all district facilities.

Additionally, faculty, staff and students will have opportunities to engage in research focused on the renewable technologies of the district’s energy system.

How does it support App State strategic priorities?

The district’s zero-carbon energy system supports the following strategic priorities of the university:

• Providing Exceptional Educational Experiences — specifically by leveraging technology to support teaching and learning.
• Advancing Research, Innovation and Creativity — through advancing knowledge and promoting discovery and the application of findings that benefit the region, state, nation and world.
• Strengthening Resilience and Sustainability — the system’s renewable technologies will serve to strengthen the university’s culture of sustainability and the resilience of its campus community.
• Advancing Local, Regional and Global Engagement — the Innovation District is expected to have a lasting and powerful impact on the entire region, broadening economic development opportunities across Northwestern North Carolina.

How does it support UNC System Goals and Metrics?

Through the Innovation District project, powered by the zero-carbon energy system, App State can produce more graduates in critical workforce areas for North Carolina — identified in the UNC System’s strategic plan as STEM, health sciences, K-12 education and emerging workforce areas — who are capable of addressing the needs of the world.

By powering the Innovation District, the zero-carbon energy system aligns with these System goals:

• Student Success — through research engagement with the system, App State students will develop competencies such as critical and creative thinking, technology proficiency, resilience and collaboration, among others.
• Economic Impact and Community Engagement — the Innovation District is expected to have a lasting and powerful impact on the entire region, broadening economic development opportunities across Northwestern North Carolina.