Building History and Use
The Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute was established at the University of Louisville to investigate a question at the center of modern public health: How do the natural, social, and personal environments in which people live shape their health outcomes? With Louisville as its urban laboratory, the Institute brings together physicians, scientists, chemists, engineers, epidemiologists, economists, and community partners to study how environmental conditions foster or impede cardiovascular health, as well as to develop actionable strategies for reducing health disparities in cities.
The New Vision of Health Campus represents the Institute’s most ambitious physical expression of that mission to date. Made possible by a commitment from Louisville health advocate Christina Lee Brown valued at $47 million by the university, the campus is being established in two historic buildings on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard in downtown Louisville, totaling 133,000 square feet across 11 stories. The adaptive reuse and renovation of the landmark Harmony Building and its adjacent structure will create a world-class research center alongside community engagement spaces, a revitalized rooftop event space, and a garden area designed to serve as a gathering point for the community the Institute serves.
The project was designed by K. Norman Berry Associates, with CMTA providing mechanical engineering.
Why Geothermal?
For an institution whose research mission is built around the connection between environment and health, the choice of building systems carries institutional significance. A campus that studies how environmental conditions shape human wellbeing should itself demonstrate what responsible, health-conscious infrastructure looks like in practice. Sustainability here is an expression of organizational values embedded into the physical fabric of the campus.
The geothermal system was selected to eliminate fossil fuel combustion from the building’s thermal operations, reduce long-term energy costs, and demonstrate that groundwater geothermal technology can work effectively in dense urban environments where conventional systems would require far more land than an urban site can provide. Three wells deliver 338 tons of cooling and 2,091 MBH heating from a compact footprint, making this the first groundwater geothermal installation of its kind in Louisville and a proof point for the technology’s viability in Kentucky’s geology.
Well placement on the campus required considerable investigation and collaboration, balancing the technical requirements of the geothermal system with the aesthetic goals of a campus designed to be serene and welcoming for researchers, visitors, and community members alike. A variance for the onsite backup energy system was also required as part of the regulatory process.
Design and Construction
The project mobilized in 2026, with Darcy leading geothermal design and installation as part of the broader campus renovation effort. The system integrates with the building’s central mechanical infrastructure to provide consistent, high-efficiency heating and cooling across the full campus footprint, supporting both the intensive operational demands of research laboratories and the community-facing spaces that make the New Vision of Health Campus a hub for public engagement.
The landscape design surrounding the wellfield was developed to preserve the serene character of the campus garden while maintaining the access required for long-term system operations and maintenance. Achieving this balance required ongoing coordination between Darcy’s teams and the K. Norman Berry architectural partners throughout the design and construction process.
Research That Lives Its Values
The Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute has built its reputation on the idea that healthy environments are inseparable from healthy people. The New Vision of Health Campus applies that conviction to the building itself, creating a renovated historic structure in the heart of Louisville that is powered by clean geothermal energy and designed to welcome the community it studies and serves.
For Darcy, this project marks a meaningful milestone as the first groundwater geothermal installation in Kentucky, delivered in partnership with one of the most mission-aligned clients in the Darcy portfolio. The work happening inside the Envirome Institute’s laboratories and the clean energy system powering it are, in their own ways, pointed in exactly the same direction.