The vision for MN Emergency Ops Center (EOC) was to create a facility that combines high energy efficiency with a low total cost of ownership. The ongoing operations of this facility are critical to solve issues for public infrastructure that happen every day. In a northern climate like Minnesota, the need for systems that are resilient to cold weather and warm alike and keep employees operational is not a “nice to have” it’s a must.
This 36,000 square foot facility was designed and initiated in early 2023. The project concluded with a grand opening August of 2025 and has been using geothermal since that point. Darcy Solutions installed a 2-well, 110-ton system to provide resilient and sustainable climate control for the state’s central emergency hub.
The Public Safety educational facility in Olmsted County serves an important purpose: training new members of the law enforcement and giving ongoing education seminars to those who have served throughout their careers. The original building for this purpose was significantly outdated and lacked the capacity to house all elements of their operational oversight.
This new construction project required significant energy efficiency improvements to qualify for state funding standards. Geothermal was chosen as the best option to help meet these standards. The project is also very close the recently completed Public Works building which is also using a Darcy geothermal solution for comfort heating and cooling.
This 1-well, 37-ton Darcy geothermal system provides dedicated heating and cooling for the Olmsted County Public Safety facility. The aquifer-enabled design ensures energy-efficient climate control for essential county services including full time team members and the temporary educational events for much larger crowds.
The choice of a Darcy system was driven by the need for a high-capacity thermal solution that could be installed effectively on the available site. Beyond the immediate energy savings, the system offers long-term reliability and adaptability, ensuring the Olmsted County Public Safety facility remains efficient for decades to come.
Olmsted County Public Works houses an immense amount of equipment for all kinds of public operations. This facility is critical for doing the O&M on all assets and being ready to deploy for critical events like large scale snow removal, natural disaster mitigation, and every day events like road grading or tree removal as well.
Driven by a desire for innovation and fiscal responsibility, the Olmsted County Public Works is part of a broader county wide approach to sustainable, long lasting public infrastructure. This project targeted a mechanical design that used geothermal to improve energy efficiency to meet state wide standards.
Originally using a pond water geothermal system, over the 15 years of operation it became evident additional space for employees necessitated an expansion of the facility and thermal capacity along with it. The project also has multiple EV chargers on site and combines a modern and functional building aesthetic with a natural surrounding of the Southeastern landscape of Minnesota.
Darcy Solutions built a 2-well, 51-ton geothermal system for this municipal infrastructure hub. The aquifer-based design and well heads subtly blend into the natural environment around the facility and the beautiful pollinator friendly prairie of the site. Learn more about the project and the decision making in the downloadable case study here.
The Anoka County Emergency Communications Center keeps people safe every day of the year. The former facility was limited in space, sunlight, and technology. The new facility is meant to improve efficiency of operations and modernize the work space for critical government employees.
Modernizing the infrastructure starts with the work flow of employees, but quickly expanded to the underlying MEP systems. The project design goals were anchored in operational excellence and environmental stewardship to meet state funding standards. The team identified geothermal as an innovative approach that could deliver maximum efficiency for decades to come.
The decision to implement a groundwater enabled system was based on the ability to deliver high efficiency and meet funding state requirements. The building is utilizing a 135-ton, single-well groundwater central heat pump system to provide resilient heating and cooling. Physical space was optimized by placing the equipment at the back of the gated facility, easily accessible for O&M requirements. This design eliminated the need for larger land mass of traditional systems and ensures long-term ease of maintenance.
The facility is a remarkable improvement for 24/7 mission critical operations. Learn more about the design approach and results in the included case study.
As part of the ongoing efforts of the Naval Base, NAS Whiting Field is building a Darcy geothermal system to improve operating efficiency and further their mission by testing the technology. NAS Whiting Field Installation Energy Manager, Jason Poe, and Facilities Management Director, George Rials, and they indicated that this building would be a good fit for the demonstration.
With a current 60-ton air-cooled chilled water system, depending on the specific building details and its heating and cooling needs, the Darcy system could be sufficient to replace the existing system or supplement a hybrid system. In either case, the existing system could be left in place to provide full redundancy, if desired.
Given the need of military sites’ need to potentially island operations from utility grid, geothermal is an excellent electric options to couple with distributed energy systems such as solar and storage. The team is excited to construct and test this new design at NAS Whiting Field for operational efficiency and advancement of the their mission.
Darcy team members have completed a site walk of the facility in Q4 of 2025 and are currently working to finalize the design of the system with project partners and facility managers.
Since 1971, this Milwaukee Library location has been a cornerstone of connection and growth. Now, a bold new chapter begins as the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. branch undergoes a significant revitalization.
Part of a catalytic mixed-use development, the new 17,400-square-foot facility is being rebuilt with a geothermal system—an innovative approach to sustainable water management and structural efficiency. This 21st-century library will anchor the King Drive corridor alongside a 42-unit apartment complex, blending modern infrastructure with a fifty-year legacy of community service.
The first Milwaukee Darcy geothermal system was designed to provide sustainable heating and cooling for the mixed use requirements after the renovation was completed. The well was built in the parking areas at the back of the parcel, and only took the space equivalent of a half a parking spot. The project demonstrates how compact aquifer technology can be integrated into urban public infrastructure.
Library patrons and surrounding community are interested in sustainable, long term solutions which are both energy and economically efficient. Beyond the immediate energy savings, the system offers long-term reliability and adaptability, ensuring the Milwaukee Library facility remains efficient for decades to come.
For Rochester City Hall, the priority was a robust mechanical system that offers both innovation and high efficiency. City administration and the local community wanted to find technology that balances costs and can expand for electrification planning over the coming decades. The City Hall was the first of a kind project in Rochester that provided a foothold for future projects, including the potential for a Thermal Energy Network for other public infrastructure.
This project replaced historic City Hall HVAC infrastructure with a 2-well, 156-ton groundwater geothermal system to serve the municipal center. The building has been operating for various purposes for decades and today houses multiple government administrative functions. The installation supports the city’s commitment to 100% renewable energy for municipal operations.
Darcy Solutions was the clear choice for Rochester City Hall due to its innovative technology and efficient use of the parcels natural resources. The resulting system offers stakeholders a high-performance heating and cooling solution with proven long-term applicability.
