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M State Fergus Falls launches $12.7M campus energy project

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About 50 representatives of M State, the Minnesota State system, and project partners attended the ceremonial groundbreaking at M State’s Fergus Falls campus, including, left to right: inBYLT Development and Design Engineer Jeanessa Slaughter, CMTA Senior Mechanical Engineer Steve Hoepfner, inBYLT Senior Project Manager Nate Schoenecker, Minnesota State system Vice Chancellor of Facilities Brian Swanson, Minnesota State system Construction Project Manager Ryan Gideon, Senator Jordan Rasmusson, M State President Carrie Brimhall, M State Vice President of Finance and Facilities Pat Nordick, M State Building Maintenance Supervisor Dereck Houge, Otter Tail Power Company Energy Management Representative Bill Gronwold, and inBYLT Vice President Cody Capra.
About 50 representatives of M State, the Minnesota State system, and project partners attended the ceremonial groundbreaking at M State’s Fergus Falls campus, including, left to right: inBYLT Development and Design Engineer Jeanessa Slaughter, CMTA Senior Mechanical Engineer Steve Hoepfner, inBYLT Senior Project Manager Nate Schoenecker, Minnesota State system Vice Chancellor of Facilities Brian Swanson, Minnesota State system Construction Project Manager Ryan Gideon, Senator Jordan Rasmusson, M State President Carrie Brimhall, M State Vice President of Finance and Facilities Pat Nordick, M State Building Maintenance Supervisor Dereck Houge, Otter Tail Power Company Energy Management Representative Bill Gronwold, and inBYLT Vice President Cody Capra.


Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) held a ceremonial groundbreaking today for a major energy improvement project that will modernize critical infrastructure across the Fergus Falls campus while creating healthier, more sustainable learning and working environments for years to come.

Funded in large part through Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) appropriations provided by the Minnesota Legislature, the $12.7 million project will bring a centralized geothermal heating and cooling system, significant ventilation upgrades and a new emergency backup power system to the campus. 

The new system will serve approximately 160,000 square feet of campus space and is expected to be completed in fall 2028. 

“Today is a very exciting day for this campus and for this college,” said M State President Carrie Brimhall. “Replacing an HVAC system isn’t always the flashiest project. It may not be the first thing people notice when they walk through our doors, but projects like this are among the most important investments we can make. The systems behind our walls help make our classrooms comfortable, our facilities reliable and our campus functional, every single day. We are deeply grateful for the support that brought us to this moment.” 

Project partners include the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities; design, engineering and construction teams including CMTA and inBYLT; local power company Otter Tail Power; and supportive legislative advocates, most notably Senator Jordan Rasmusson, a Fergus Falls resident and M State alumnus who was instrumental in securing the HEAPR funding. 

The project includes approximately 280 geothermal wells, each drilled roughly 250 feet deep, and will replace 21 aging heating and cooling systems across campus. The new campuswide system combines geothermal heat pumps with natural gas boiler support during peak winter demand and is projected to reduce annual operating costs by 10% while improving temperature and humidity control throughout the campus building. 

“M State Fergus Falls is the first Minnesota State campus to pursue heating and cooling its entire campus with a ground-source system,” said Brian Swanson, vice chancellor of facilities with the Minnesota State system. “A project this broad and all-encompassing has not been done within the state system until now, and we celebrate M State for reaching the starting line of this project.” 

State Senator Jordan Rasmusson speaks at the podium at M State's Fergus Falls campus, in Legacy Hall in the fall of 2026.
Senator Jordan Rasmusson, an M State alumnus and key supporter of the project, spoke at today's ceremonial groundbreaking in Legacy Hall.

The Fergus Falls campus has undergone decades of growth and expansion, resulting in a collection of HVAC systems that are increasingly difficult to maintain and no longer meet the needs of a modern educational environment. In addition to replacing outdated equipment, the project will reduce carbon emissions, strengthen campus resiliency and support M State’s long-term sustainability goals.

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027, with major construction phases occurring throughout 2027 and 2028.