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State-of-the-art facility utilizes innovative ice storage HVAC system
Case Engineering has completed Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) design on St. Charles Community College’s (SCC) new Regional Workforce Innovation Center – the first building on the college’s new 55-acre campus in Wentzville, MO.
The 48,000-square-foot facility, designed to achieve a LEED Gold certification, features an innovative ice storage HVAC system designed by Case Engineering as an educational tool for students attending the college focused on preparing the region’s workforce for in-demand jobs in technology, advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy, healthcare and more.
Officially opened on Oct. 3, 2025, the $41 million center features classrooms, labs and shops where SCC will introduce new programs providing hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing, including battery technology, electric and autonomous vehicles, renewable wind and solar energy, high-tech processes and robotics. In addition to providing education and training for students, the college will have a “Make-it Center” lab where students in middle and high school can explore new technology such as how a 3-D printer works and even operate a robotic arm. An introduction to advanced manufacturing technologies and other skilled trades will be available for students with options to earn associate degrees and certificates.
“This new center will be the premier technical training and education center in this region,” said SCC President Barbara Kavalier, Ph.D. “We recognize the rapidity at which technology is changing the world of work, and this center will help us better prepare students for desirable jobs.”
Case Engineering partnered with the architect on the project, St. Louis-based JEMA, to design mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for the two-story, state-of-the-art facility. One of the unique features of the building’s mechanical design is its eco-friendly HVAC system, which allows the building to be heated and cooled utilizing an ice storage system.
Here’s how it works:
- Ice Production: During off-peak hours (usually at night), electricity is used to freeze water in a thermal energy storage tank, creating ice using chillers.
- Energy Storage: The ice acts as a thermal battery, storing the cold energy until it is needed.
- Cooling Application: During peak hours (typically during the day), the stored ice is melted to provide cooling. The cold water or air produced from the melting ice is circulated through the building’s HVAC system to cool the indoor environment.
- Heat Recovery: During the ice-making process, chillers generate waste heat. This waste heat can be captured and used for heating purposes. Advanced thermal management systems can integrate ice-based thermal energy storage with heat pump chillers. Heat pump chillers transfer heat from one place to another, using the cold energy stored in ice for cooling in addition to using the energy generated during ice production for heating.
The college received a 40% tax credit through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act for construction of the ice storage system, which is one of the first in the area utilized for both heating and cooling.
“While the capital cost of installing this type of system may be higher initially, by shifting the energy costs to non-peak periods, the college will reduce its overall utility expenses. In addition to providing an environmentally friendly HVAC solution, it also makes for an innovative, firsthand learning tool for students attending the college,” said Case Engineering Principal/Mechanical Engineer James Eyre, P.E., LEED.
Other eco-friendly aspects of the facility’s MEP design include LED and day lighting, plus occupancy lighting sensors and low-flush toilets.
The general contractor on the project was River City Construction of East Peoria, IL.
