Construction begins on new energy loop
The new sustainable energy system powered by natural gas will heat the Main Building, West Wing, and Gordon Wing.
By Juanita I.C. Traughber, Communications Director
Although University School of Nashville has moved to remote learning, the corner of 19th and Edgehill Avenues remains well-traveled, now with excavators and men wearing hard hats. Construction crews began work during Spring Break to replace the school’s steam line with a new energy loop.
Although University School of Nashville has moved to remote learning, the corner of 19th and Edgehill Avenues remains well-traveled, now with excavators and men wearing hard hats. Construction crews began work during Spring Break to replace the school’s steam line with a new energy loop.
The steam line, part of the original Peabody Demonstration School when doors opened in 1925, has been a crucial yet hidden proverbial link to Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College for decades even after its 1975 transition to become USN. In an effort that serves environmental, budgetary, and safety purposes, Vanderbilt decided to forego its dependence on coal-powered steam heat and switch to a hot water and chilled water loop.
The new sustainable energy system is more efficient and powered by natural gas. Improving and renewing USN’s energy supply in this way will modernize the original system to heat and cool the Main Building, West Wing, and Gordon Wing. It also will have future capacity for chilled water loop on the new Vanderbilt system.
Construction is permitted under the city's Safer at Home Order. To read more about the project, click here.
In 2003, USN added a geothermal heating and cooling system on the backfield to support the Tibbott Center and Hassenfeld Library.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Back Lawn transforms with turf field, track
Expect to see an active construction site as students, families, and faculty return to the Edgehill Campus. Progress continues on USN's most anticipated campus improvement of summer 2026.Read More -
Curricular travel opportunities return for the 2026-2027 school year
Read MoreUniversity School of Nashville is excited to announce the return of curricular travel opportunities. Student applications for the 2026-2026 school year will open Friday, August 21, 2026. Additional details, including, financial aid processes, and application timelines, will be shared with families soon.Please contact K-12 Director of Experiential Learning Kalee Barbis with any questions, kbarbis@usn.org. -
Back-to-school Popsicle Party cancelled
Mother Nature is not cooperating for our annual Popsicle Party. Depending on which weather app you use, actual and feels-like temperatures are 98 to 101 and higher. Under these conditions, we would limit student activities, so, in the interest of everyone's health and well-being, we are going to cancell our gathering at the River Campus. There is just not enough shade and certainly no air conditioning to bring relief to hundreds of USN families. Thank you for understanding. We look forward to seeing you in a few days for the start of our new school year.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.