How We Helped Install a Smarter Geothermal System at Arcadia University
At Kocher’s Water Pumps and Tanks, we’ve seen geothermal systems evolve — but the installation at Arcadia University’s new Commons building stands out as one of the most well-engineered projects we’ve been part of.
The Commons is a 62,000 sq. ft. addition to Arcadia’s Kuch Athletic and Recreation Center, just outside Philadelphia. The building was designed with serious sustainability ambitions: solar energy, high-performance windows, and a geothermal system sized to deliver 92 tons of cooling and 874 MBtu/h of heating. Our job was to make that geothermal system a reality.
A Better Material Made the Difference
The original spec called for HDPE pipe — what most in the industry default to. But working alongside REHAU, the project team switched to RAUGEO PEXa pipe, and it made a noticeable difference on the job site.
PEXa is more flexible than HDPE, which makes handling and routing through boreholes considerably easier. The fittings come together quickly, which adds up to real time savings across a job of this scale. We installed more than 50,000 feet of 1-inch pipe and 17,000 feet of 1¼-inch pipe across 42 boreholes — each one drilled to 296 feet. Efficiency at every step matters when the scope is that large.
More Control, Better Results
What really set this system apart was the design. Rather than grouping boreholes together in circuits the way we would with HDPE — typically five to eight boreholes tied together — each borehole here connects individually to a central manifold, housed in an accessible vault on site.
That individual connection gives us something we don’t always have: real control. We could balance each borehole independently during commissioning, and the system is set up so that operators can isolate and manage individual boreholes long after we’ve left the job. That’s not just good for installation — it’s good for the life of the system.
REHAU’s Double U-bend loop configuration also allowed the overall geothermal field to be reduced in size by more than 20%, without any loss in performance. On a working campus where space is at a premium, that kind of efficiency is genuinely valuable.
The Takeaway
The Arcadia Commons project is a good example of what’s possible when contractors, engineers, and manufacturers work from the same set of priorities. Pennoni Associates handled the mechanical engineering, REHAU brought the material innovation, and we brought the installation expertise to tie it all together.
The result is a geothermal system built to perform efficiently for decades — and a project our team is proud to have been part of.
Thinking About Geothermal for Your Home or Building?
If you’re considering geothermal heating and cooling, we’d love to talk. Kocher’s Water Pumps and Tanks has the experience to design and install a system that’s built to last — and built to perform. Reach out to us today to get the conversation started.
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