Boston University Breaks Ground on Geothermal Computing and Data Sciences Center

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6131 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston University breaks ground on a geothermal computing center it says will be the most energy-efficient large building in Boston's history. University President Robert Brown and Mayor Martin Walsh joined Provost Jean Morrison and Board of Trustees Chairman Kenneth Feld on Tuesday at the Commonwealth Avenue site, formerly a parking lot and, before that, a Burger King — which gave the project its early internal code name, BK1. The building, designed by KPMB Architects and to be built by Suffolk Construction, will house BU's Department of Computer Science, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and the newly created Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences.

It will be heated and cooled by a geothermal well system that Brown called the largest of its kind in New England, using zero fossil fuels. Walsh announced he will sign an executive order the following week requiring new Boston municipal buildings to meet a zero net carbon standard, calling the BU center the model for that city mandate.

In the full story:

• Background and Context
• Provost Jean Morrison: The Academic Case
• President Robert Brown: The Place and the Building
• Mayor Martin Walsh: The City's Perspective and Coming Executive Action
• Board of Trustees Chairman Kenneth Feld
• Ceremonial Conclusion
• The complete report — 1,487 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6131 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.