About

App State’s Innovation District will be powered by an energy efficient system that will begin to transition the university’s Boone campus away from steam power. App State has a long-established reputation as a leader in the renewable energy space, and the university is exploring renewable energy options that will establish a national example for resilient energy solutions.

This system will generate and distribute renewable energy to support all planned facilities located in the district, including the STEM Academic Building and faculty and staff housing, which are under construction as part of the project’s first development phase.

The energy system is being designed as a flexible, modular system that can accommodate new energy technologies as the district grows. It comprises the following initial components, which became operational in summer 2025:

• Two wind turbines that, along with the original Broyhill wind turbine, will contribute nearly 1 megawatt of wind power.
• Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels capable of generating approximately 520 kilowatts of power.
• A geothermal heating and cooling system consisting of 90 geothermal wells, geothermal heat pump chillers and wastewater heat recovery tanks.
• A central plant for managing the distribution of heating, cooling and electricity within the district.

App State’s Innovation District initiative will bring together expertise across disciplines and facilitate collaborations on campus and with the communities throughout the region, extending the university’s mission of teaching, research and service, preparing the workforce of today and building the workforce of tomorrow. The project is expected to have a lasting and powerful impact on the entire region, broadening economic development opportunities across Northwestern North Carolina. Learn more about App State’s Innovation District project.

An artist’s rendering of the control building for the App State Innovation District’s energy system. The building’s glass facade will allow Innovation District visitors to view the system’s geothermal heat pump chillers. The building will also feature an immersion room, with displays that highlight the system’s wind and solar energy production. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

This artist’s rendering presents a view of what the initial phase of the Innovation District’s STEM Academic Building could look like, once completed. Note, designs for the building are still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

This artist's rendering depicts a design concept for faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District, as part of the project's Phase 1 development. Image courtesy of Radnor Property Group

Status

Workers have installed an underground geothermal heating and cooling system, along with two new wind turbines and ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels, as part of the district’s energy system. These initial system components became fully operational in summer 2025.

Additionally, the first building of the Innovation Ridge faculty and staff housing project opened to residents on Aug. 16, 2025. Exterior and interior construction work, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, continues for the remaining Innovation Ridge housing facilities, with a second facility slated to open near the end of October 2025. The other three buildings are scheduled to come online later in the fall 2025 semester and in the beginning of 2026.

Foundation work for the district’s STEM Academic Building has been completed, and workers have installed about half of the facility’s structural steel, as of September 2025. App State’s targeted completion date for the facility is August 2027.

App State has entered a public-private partnership (P3) agreement with Harrison Street Real Estate LLC, which was approved by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors in January 2023. Harrison Street is responsible for the development, construction and operation of the district’s energy system.

In July 2022, the board approved the pre-development letter of intent for the district’s first phase, as well as App State’s pursuit of P3 agreements for both the energy system and the faculty and staff housing.

App State ceremoniously broke ground on the first phase of development for the Innovation District — beginning with the STEM Academic Building — on March 25, 2022.

An aerial view of App State’s Innovation District on the Boone campus, shown Sept. 2, 2025. Construction is underway for the district’s STEM Academic Building (shown at top center of image), and the control building for the district’s energy system is shown at the top right of the image. The first building of the site’s Innovation Ridge faculty and staff housing project, shown at left, opened to residents on Aug. 16, 2025. The remaining Innovation Ridge buildings are scheduled to come online later in the fall 2025 semester and in the beginning of 2026. Photo by Wes Craig and Troy Tuttle

Construction progress for the STEM Academic Building — the first academic building of App State’s Innovation District — is shown in this aerial image, taken Sept. 2, 2025. As of September 2025, workers have installed about 50% of the facility’s structural steel. Photo by Wes Craig and Troy Tuttle

This aerial image, taken Sept. 2, 2025, shows the Innovation Ridge faculty and staff housing project at App State’s Innovation District. The first Innovation Ridge building, shown at right in the foreground, opened to residents on Aug. 16, 2025, and construction is nearing completion for the second Innovation Ridge building, shown at left in the foreground. Innovation Ridge, once completed, will consist of five multistory buildings housing 156 faculty and staff units that offer one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations. Photo by Wes Craig and Troy Tuttle

This aerial view of App State’s Innovation District, taken Aug. 19, 2025, shows the Innovation Ridge faculty and staff housing facilities at the site (top left), along with the control building for the district’s energy system (bottom left) and the future site of the district’s STEM Academic Building (center). Construction of the STEM Academic Building is underway and the facility is slated for completion in August 2027. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

An aerial view of construction work taking place for the STEM Academic Building at App State’s Innovation District, which was taken Aug. 19, 2025. Half of the building’s first-floor concrete slab has been poured and the installation of under-slab utilities is ongoing, in preparation for pouring the second half of the slab. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

One of the five facilities that compose the Innovation Ridge faculty and staff housing community at App State’s Innovation District, located on the Boone campus. The first residents of Innovation Ridge moved into their residences on Aug. 16, 2025. Innovation Ridge’s remaining facilities are slated to be completed over the fall 2025 semester. This image was taken Aug. 19, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of App State’s Innovation District, as of July 9, 2025. Development is underway for the district’s Phase 1 components — the STEM Academic Building, the faculty and staff housing facilities and the control building for the district’s energy system. App State’s targeted opening date for the district’s STEM Academic Building is 2026, with occupancy of the faculty and staff housing slated for fall 2025. The initial components of the district’s energy system were made fully operational in summer 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Troy Tuttle

Shown in this aerial photo, taken July 9, 2025, are the control building for the energy system that will power the facilities of App State's Innovation District (pictured at right), as well as construction work taking place for the district's STEM Academic Building (shown at left). Two of the district's three wind turbines are visible in the background. Photo by Wes Craig and Troy Tuttle

Construction continues for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State's Innovation District, as shown in this July 9, 2025, photo. The facilities are slated for occupancy in fall 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Troy Tuttle

This aerial photo, taken June 11, 2025, shows the faculty and staff housing (far right) under construction as part of Phase 1 development at App State’s Innovation District, as well as the ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels that have been installed adjacent to the housing facilities, as part of the district’s energy system. Two of the faculty/staff housing facilities are slated for occupancy in fall 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Kyla Willoughby

A view of the foundation work that is underway for the STEM Academic Building at App State’s Innovation District (shown at top center of the image). The District Energy Building, which will serve as the control center for the district’s energy system components, is visible at bottom right of the image. This image was taken June 11, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Kyla Willoughby

Construction continues for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District, as shown in this aerial photo, taken June 11, 2025. Two of the facilities are slated for occupancy in fall 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Kyla Willoughby

This panoramic view of App State’s Innovation District, taken May 7, 2025, shows the ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels that are being installed adjacent to the district’s faculty and staff housing facilities, which are under construction. Both components are part of Phase 1 development at the Innovation District. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Taken May 7, 2025, this photo offers a view of construction work taking place outside the District Energy System (DES) Building, which will serve as the control center for the district’s energy system. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

An aerial view of the faculty and staff housing facilities that are under construction as part of Phase 1 development at App State’s Innovation District, located on the Boone campus. Two of the buildings are slated for occupancy in fall 2025. This aerial photo was taken May 7, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

The future site of App State’s STEM Academic Building, located at the Innovation District on Bodenheimer Drive, on the university’s Boone campus. Foundation work for the facility began in late April 2025. This aerial photo was taken May 7, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of the Innovation District at App State’s Boone campus, as of April 9, 2025. Shown at left are the faculty and staff housing facilities that are under construction as part of the district’s Phase 1 development, and visible at center, workers are beginning the installation of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels, which are a component of the district’s energy system. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction continues for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District, as shown in this April 9, 2025, photo. Two of the five multistory buildings are slated for occupancy in fall 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Pictured April 9, 2025, workers install the frames that will support the ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels at App State’s Innovation District. These panels, along with a geothermal heating and cooling system and two new wind turbines, are part of the energy system that will power the district’s facilities. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

This aerial image, taken March 11, 2025, shows the wind turbines located at App State's Innovation District, as well as the District Energy System (DES) Building, which will serve as a control center for the components of the district’s energy system. Shown at center and adjacent to the DES Building is the future site of the district's STEM Academic Building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of App State's Innovation District, taken March 11, 2025. Construction continues for the district's first development phase, which includes a STEM Academic Building, faculty and staff housing and a energy system that will power the district's facilities. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

An aerial view of construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities that are part of Phase 1 development at App State's Innovation District, located on the Boone campus. This image was taken March 11, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

The three windmills at App State’s Innovation District, located at the top of Bodenheimer Drive on the Boone campus, are shown in this aerial photo, taken Feb. 6, 2025. Pictured at center is the site’s original, 100 kW windmill that was installed in 2009, which is flanked by two new windmills that were installed in early 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of App State’s Innovation District, taken Feb. 6, 2025. The district’s faculty and staff housing facilities, shown at left, are under construction and slated for occupancy later this year. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction continues on schedule for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District, as shown in this Feb. 6, 2025, photo. The housing facilities, as well as a STEM Academic Building and a district energy system, are part of the district’s first development phase. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

This aerial image, taken Jan. 17, 2025, shows a portion of the Innovation District site at App State's Boone campus, with the district's wind turbines and District Energy System Building visible at right and one of the faculty and staff housing facilities pictured in the bottom left corner of the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken Jan. 17, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

An aerial view of the faculty and staff housing facilities under construction as part of Phase 1 development at App State's Innovation District. This photo was taken Jan. 17, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

This aerial image, taken Jan. 17, 2025, shows a portion of the Innovation District site at App State's Boone campus, with the district's wind turbines and District Energy System Building visible at right and one of the faculty and staff housing facilities pictured in the bottom left corner of the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken Jan. 17, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

An aerial view of the faculty and staff housing facilities under construction as part of Phase 1 development at App State's Innovation District. This photo was taken Jan. 17, 2025. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A front view of the District Energy System Building, which is under construction as part of Phase 1 development at App State’s Innovation District. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

This photo, taken in December 2024, shows construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District. This housing is part of the district’s Phase 1 development. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

An aerial view of construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District, as of Nov. 18, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction work for one of two new wind turbines at App State’s Innovation District is shown in this aerial image, taken Nov. 18, 2024. The turbines are part of the energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities with solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. App State’s Jim and Bettie Smith Baseball Stadium is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Two new wind turbines are being installed at App State’s Innovation District, as part of the district’s energy system. This image offers a close-up view of one of the turbine bases. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

This aerial view shows construction progress for the first development phase at App State’s Innovation District, as of Nov. 18, 2024. Vertical construction of the district’s faculty and staff housing facilities is visible at center. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Installation of two new wind turbines has begun at App State’s Innovation District, as shown in this aerial photo, taken Nov. 18, 2024. The turbines are part of the energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities with solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. The existing wind turbine located at App State’s Innovation District is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Pictured Nov. 20, 2024, workers assemble one of two new wind turbines at App State’s Innovation District. The turbines are part of the energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities. The system will feature solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. Photo by Troy Tuttle

A worker, left, is pictured next to the rotor blades of one of two new wind turbines that are being installed at the App State Innovation District, as part of the district’s energy system. The system, once completed, will feature solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies that will power the district’s facilities. Photo by Troy Tuttle

Vertical construction is underway for the Phase 1 faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District site, as shown in this Sept. 10, 2024 photo. Photo by Wes Craig

A street-level view of the construction that is underway for Phase 1 faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District. This image was taken Sept. 11, 2024. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities and Operations

An aerial view of the Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig

This image, taken Sept. 11, 2024, shows the interior work taking place for the District Energy System Building at App State's Innovation District. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities and Operations

An aerial view of Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of Aug. 13, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig

Foundation work for the multistory buildings that will house App State faculty/staff at the university's Innovation District — part of the district's Phase 1 development — is shown in this July 2024 aerial photo. Photo submitted

This panoramic photo, taken July 15, 2024, shows the construction progress for the first phase of development at App State's Innovation District. The control building for the district’s energy system, which is under construction as part of Phase 1 development, is visible near the top center of the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Phase 1 construction work at App State's Innovation District progresses on schedule, as shown in this aerial image taken June 19, 2024. The control building for the district’s energy system — part of the district's first development phase — is shown at right in the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of the Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of June 19, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction work is underway for the Innovation District's energy system control building, as shown in this June 19, 2024, photo. Workers are pictured installing roofing panels to the building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken May 16, 2024. The steel structural frame for the district's energy system control building is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of the Phase 1 construction work taking place at App State's Innovation District, located at the top of Bodenheimer Drive on the Boone campus. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

The structural steel frame is in place for the control building for the district’s energy system, as shown in this May, 16, 2024, photo. Work to apply the exterior of the building will soon begin. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Workers are shown installing framing for the energy system control building at App State’s Innovation District in this photo, taken April 25, 2024. Appalachian State University photo

Construction is underway for the energy system control building at App State's Innovation District, as shown in this aerial photo, taken April 23, 2024. The foundation for the building has been set, and workers are pictured installing underground utilities for the building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress for the first phase of development at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken April 23, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of March 12, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress on the first phase of development for App State’s Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken Feb. 20, 2024. Recent construction work at the site includes the drilling of geothermal wells, which are part of a geothermal system that will serve both the faculty and staff housing and the STEM Academic Building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

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How is it funded?

The district’s energy system will be supported through a public-private partnership (P3) that does not rely upon state funds, or any capital from the university.

Who will benefit?

All those who visit and take part in App State’s Innovation District — from faculty, staff and students to partner organizations in the local and regional communities — will benefit from the energy system component of the project, as the system will power all district facilities.

Additionally, faculty, staff and students will have opportunities to engage in research focused on the renewable technologies of the district’s energy system.

How does it support App State strategic priorities?

The district’s energy system supports the following strategic priorities of the university:

• Providing Exceptional Educational Experiences — specifically by leveraging technology to support teaching and learning.
• Advancing Research, Innovation and Creativity — through advancing knowledge and promoting discovery and the application of findings that benefit the region, state, nation and world.
• Strengthening Resilience and Sustainability — the system’s renewable technologies will serve to strengthen the university’s culture of sustainability and the resilience of its campus community.
• Advancing Local, Regional and Global Engagement — the Innovation District is expected to have a lasting and powerful impact on the entire region, broadening economic development opportunities across Northwestern North Carolina.

How does it support UNC System Goals and Metrics?

Through the Innovation District project, powered by an energy efficient system, App State can produce more graduates in critical workforce areas for North Carolina — identified in the UNC System’s strategic plan as STEM, health sciences, K-12 education and emerging workforce areas — who are capable of addressing the needs of the world.

By powering the Innovation District, the energy system aligns with these System goals:

• Student Success — through research engagement with the system, App State students will develop competencies such as critical and creative thinking, technology proficiency, resilience and collaboration, among others.
• Economic Impact and Community Engagement — the Innovation District is expected to have a lasting and powerful impact on the entire region, broadening economic development opportunities across Northwestern North Carolina.