Conference
Travelogue
The Road to Nashville:
A continuing district energy travelogue
to the annual conference
In this issue we continue our virtual
road trip from IDEA’s home in Boston
to the site of the 2006 annual confer-
ence in Nashville, profiling district energy
systems along the way.
En route we’ll feature some representa-
tive district energy systems and let you
know a bit about them: when they were
started, what services they provide,
how many buildings they serve,
what’s the most unique building on
their system, and what’s the best
tourist attraction in the area.
Last issue we traveled from
Boston to Washington, D.C. In this
issue we travel from Washington,
D.C., to Blacksburg, Va. Enjoy your
trip – plan now to join us in
Nashville in June.
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Howard Hall
1Howard University
Washington, D.C.
System started: 1934.
Services provided: Steam for space heating,
cooling and process needs.
Buildings on system: 50.
Most unique building on system: Howard
Hall, oldest building on Howard University’s
campus. Originally home of Oliver Otis Howard,
the Civil War general and university founder.
Completed in 1869 as one of first four buildings
on campus. Declared National Historic Landmark
in 1974. Restored in 1998; now serves as university’s Alumni Center. Received Historic
Preservation Award from Washington Metropolitan
Chapter of the Victorian Society of America.
Award presented annually for outstanding
restoration of 19th century building or for significant achievements preserving 19th century
culture.
Best area tourist attraction: Just blocks away
is the Basilica of the National Shrine. Construction
began in 1950; it was completed and solemnly
dedicated in 1960. In 1996, United States Catholic
Bishops Conference declared it a National Shrine
in accordance with Church law. As largest Roman
Catholic church in U.S., it is destination of thousands of pilgrims from around the world. They
find it to be a place of rest and renewal in a
setting of natural beauty.
