Imagine my surprise when I saw this on the Burke-Gilman Trail. I got off the Link at UW station and grabbed a scooter on the Burke Gilman to hitch it over to Ravenna Brewing. I've been on this stretch before, bit somehow never noticed this. There is a building with... rain? A rain building? A raining building on the UW campus? How very Seattle of them.
I was incredulous. Was there a fire? Are sprinklers going off? Is SFD about to come in blazing? There's literally a constant waterfall coming out of this building. Does no one else care??
I had to figure it out, so I grabbed my beer at Ravenna and got googling.
That "waterfall" is actually part of the UW Power Plant's cooling system.
Though it’s called a power plant, the facility’s primary job is to manage heating and cooling across the entire campus. The process starts at the plant, where massive chillers generate about 12,000 tons of cold water, which is then sent to various buildings to provide air conditioning.
As the cool air circulates through these buildings, it absorbs heat, warming the water in the system. This warm water is then pumped back to the power plant, where the heat is transferred to cooling towers.
These towers, visible from the Burke Gilman, are designed to let the heat evaporate through the flowing water, creating the waterfall effect that catches the eye of passersby. So, what looks like a scenic feature is actually a vital part of keeping the campus cool during those warmer days. I'll remember that next time I'm scooting by.
What are some other cool Easter Eggs you've seen along the BG?
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