University of Idaho Campus Photographs Collection

History

Completed in 1927 to replace the university’s original heating plant, the Energy Plant marked a shift in campus infrastructure and became a model for centralized heating systems across the Pacific Northwest. Designed by Spokane engineer R.L. Nelson, the facility initially relied on coal-fired steam generation to heat 45 campus buildings. Over time, it adapted to evolving energy technologies—switching to pulverized coal in 1940, to natural gas in 1963, and finally to biomass in the mid-1980s in response to federal environmental regulations. A biomass silo added during this final retrofit remains in use today.

The Energy Plant played a critical role in enabling year-round instruction and supporting major campus growth following both World Wars. By 2016, the nearly century-old facility was heating 68 campus buildings while also providing cooling, compressed air for labs, and combined heat and power generation. Its evolution mirrors broader trends in industrial design and energy infrastructure in the region.¹

Design

The Energy Plant was conceived as a large, functional industrial structure with early 20th-century brickwork expressing its original character. Later modifications introduced metal-clad additions reflecting postwar modernism, signaling both technological progress and changing architectural priorities over time.²

Physical Description

The building’s west and south façades retain much of their historic brickwork, offering a glimpse of its original 1920s industrial design. Later expansions, particularly on the east side, reveal a shift toward more utilitarian, form-follows-function construction. These architectural transitions highlight the plant’s dual identity as both a technological and stylistic landmark on campus.³

Notes

Images of Heating Plant