Canadian Mennonite University

GEOptimize has been directly involved in the design and implementation of an operational district GSHP system at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg since 2023. The CMU campus consists of nine academic and residential buildings, with the district geothermal system developed to replace aging mechanical systems and support the University’s long-term decarbonization objectives.

The district GSHP system enables energy sharing between campus buildings and is designed with a phased, modular approach, allowing additional buildings to be connected over time as budgets permit. The system intersperses ground heat exchangers with connected buildings along a central ambient thermal loop, enabling buildings to add or remove heat as required while maintaining stable loop temperatures.

Key technical features include directionally drilled horizontal GHXs installed beneath constrained site areas, approximately 16 km of GHX piping installed in the initial phases (expanding to an anticipated 40 km as the system is fully built out), centralized loop infrastructure housed in a compact, serviceable enclosure containing manifolds, circulation pumps, controls, and monitoring equipment, and a phased connection strategy supporting incremental expansion and long-term system optimization.

Ongoing monitoring of the system informs operational adjustments and enables the system to be right-sized over time, reducing unnecessary upfront capital investment and improving long-term performance certainty. The CMU project demonstrates GEOptimize’s ability to support the technical delivery, project management, and long-term operational evolution of district thermal energy systems.