Watchtower Bible & Tract Society New Headquarters Campus Development

This 2.1 million square-foot development includes 21 buildings on 249 forested acres. The live, work, play campus has offices, an A/V production studio, events center, 10 mid-rise residential buildings, and amenities that include a fitness center. The campus is expected to receive 1,300 visitors per day. Special emphasis has been placed on the preservation of the natural landscape as well as the efficiency and sustainability of the site's operations. All buildings will comply with the NYSERDA Stretch Code and are targeting LEED Gold Certification. Eleven buildings will utilize Mass Timber construction, displacing thousands of tons of carbon-intensive concrete. When complete this site will be the largest Mass Timber project in North America. 

The campus is served by an all-electric Central Energy Plant. The mechanical systems are centered on a geothermal field of 215 x 800-ft deep wells utilizing advanced concentric heat exchanger technology. The plant includes four simultaneous heating and cooling centrifugal heat pumps as well as modular scroll compressor geothermal heat pumps. Waste heat generated by cooling equipment and buildings on campus is cycled directly into the heating systems, including the generation of domestic hot water. Waste heat that cannot be recycled will be rejected to the geothermal field or through two conventional cooling towers. Rainwater detention and reuse will mean that zero potable water will be used for cooling tower make up. 

The campus electrical systems will include over 3 megawatts of photovoltaic power and a 10 megawatt-hour utility scale battery. The natural gas fired emergency generators provide full electrical power back-up for the entire campus. The campus microgrid allows for islanded operation during a power outage. The microgrid also allows for the campus to participate in demand response programs with Con Ed of Orange and Rockland and the New York Independent System Operator. 

Watchtower Central Plant

Projects Highlights

Owner

Watchtower Bible & Tract Society

Location

Ramapo, NY

Size

2,100,000 SF

BR+A Principal
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