Veolia Energy North America, the owner and operator of the largest portfolio of district energy (heating and cooling) networks in the United States, is delighted to announce today that The Curtis Institute of Music has decided to accept Veolia to provide continuing steam services for Concert Hall and Opera Studio heating in a renewed 20-year contract through 2028. The Curtis Institute is one of the 300 customers currently served by Veolia’s reliable and energy efficient district energy network.
District energy plays an integral role in Philadelphia’s infrastructure. The network of underground steam pipes, owned, operated and maintained by Veolia Energy, totals about 30 miles in length and encompasses an area of approximately 4.5 square miles.
“The Curtis Institute of Music is a valued and unique customer for Veolia Energy. We are thrilled to have them with us for the next 20 years,” said Mike Smedley, General Manager of Veolia Energy’s Philadelphia Operations, Trigen Philadelphia. “We look forward to continuing to provide the same reliable steam heating services to Curtis, while simultaneously passing along the cost savings and energy efficiencies that our district energy network can provide.”
The Curtis Institute was founded in 1924 and is supported financially by an endowment established in 1927, as well as by individual, foundation, and corporate donations. It is the most selective conservatory of music in the country and guarantees full-tuition scholarships to all admitted students. Each school year, its students give more than 130 public performances at Curtis and at local venues such as Verizon Hall.
“As a nonprofit institution, it is important that we select our service providers with extra care,” said Elizabeth Warshawer, Executive Vice President at The Curtis Institute of Music. “Partnering with Veolia Energy made sense from both a financial and cultural standpoint. We are realizing cost savings through the use of Veolia’s district energy network, and we feel that our own ideals are reflected in Veolia’s efforts to provide large scale energy efficiencies to the city of Philadelphia and to support sustainable development.”
Curtis is located on Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square in four mansions constructed in the 19th century and adapted over the years to serve the needs of the school. As with any urban setting, space is at a premium, and using district energy enables Curtis to free up valuable square footage that would typically be taken up by heat generating equipment. Recently, with the help of Veolia Energy, The Curtis Institute installed a demand limiting device, which allows the institute to limit the amount of its peak steam consumption and reduce total consumption.
“The Curtis Institute is proud to be a citizen of the Philadelphia cultural community,” continued Ms. Warshawer. “We are always mindful of our role within this environment and how it is enhanced by our corporate partnerships. We consider Veolia Energy a critical piece of our own infrastructure and look forward to our continued relationship.”
The Curtis Institute’s facilities also include Field Concert Hall, a 240-seat auditorium; and the Curtis Opera Studio, a black-box theater that seats 125 people. The conservatory is currently planning a nearby facility expansion project that is slated for Silver LEED Certification.
For additional information:
