News & Insights
VIDEO: Belmont University: Sustainable university design
Why this matters now
Higher-ed campuses face mounting pressure: rising energy costs, aging infrastructure, sustainability mandates, and the need to grow within tight urban footprints. Belmont answered these challenges early, becoming the first university in Tennessee to earn LEED Platinum certification. That pioneering mindset now sets a benchmark other institutions are racing to meet. For universities weighing how to modernize without disrupting a dense, active campus, Belmont offers a proven roadmap.
What leaders are weighing
Campus leaders increasingly ask how to design for the long term—not just the ribbon-cutting. They’re balancing:
- Energy strategy and cost control — how to shift peak electrical loads and reduce operating expenses over decades, not years.
- Sustainability without sacrifice — meeting aggressive environmental goals while preserving green space and campus character.
- Space constraints — integrating major infrastructure into a tight, neighborhood-adjacent campus with little room to spare.
- Resilience and low maintenance — building facilities that survive weather events, evolving demands, and time, while minimizing the owner’s long-term burden.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
At Belmont, our teams engineered creative solutions to complex constraints. An ice storage system lets the university shift peak electrical loads to off-hours, cutting costs and easing grid demand. Geothermal fields—tucked beneath green spaces and parking garages—deliver efficient heating and cooling without consuming scarce open land. Integrating these systems into a dense campus demanded precise coordination across every discipline.
The breadth of our expertise made the difference. For the Belmont Frist College of Medicine, we paired our healthcare team’s specialized experience with our higher-ed team—a combination few firms can offer. From science labs to performing arts venues to the central utility plant, we bring the resume, technical depth, and cross-sector knowledge to design highly technical, beautiful, and resilient buildings.
For universities planning their next chapter, Belmont proves what’s possible when engineering vision and long-term thinking come together.
David Peters, PE
David Peters has over 25 years of experience specializing in the design and application of HVAC systems for both new and existing buildings. His expertise includes the layout and design of medium and low-pressure air delivery systems, hot and chilled water systems, energy recovery air systems, water source and geothermal heat pump systems, and DX systems. David is also proficient in building energy modeling, energy evaluations, and LEED documentation. David serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at mailto:[email protected].
Phillip Sutherland, PE
Phillip Sutherland brings a forward-looking perspective through his experience helping clients prepare for the next generation of infrastructure across the aviation, education, and commercial sectors. His work focuses on electrification, EV charging, power distribution, and resilient facility design, helping clients navigate emerging technologies and practical implementation challenges. Phillip serves as a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
Erich Vierkant, PE
Erich Vierkant has over 25 years of experience designing electrical systems for higher education, institutional, and performing arts facilities. His expertise includes campus electrical infrastructure, power distribution, emergency power, lighting, grounding and lightning protection, fire alarm, communications, and security systems. He has served as lead designer on complex infrastructure upgrades, generator replacements, and life safety projects, bringing a practical understanding of how utility capacity, specialty systems, and operational requirements affect project planning. Erich is particularly experienced in identifying electrical needs early and coordinating them across disciplines to reduce risk, avoid costly conflicts, and support reliable long-term performance. He serves as a senior electrical engineer at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].