Reformed Theological Seminary
Multi-Campus Project Profile
Benefits Tagline Here
Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) operates a network of graduate theological campuses, serving students at locations across the United States and through RTS Global. What began as a controls and energy-efficiency opportunity at its Jackson, Mississippi, campus has grown into a multi-campus relationship between Power of Clean Energy (PCE), A Fidelity Company, and RTS, spanning five projects, four campuses, and four states.
Throughout that expansion, PCE has served as the primary client relationship manager and project integrator, connecting RTS with the Fidelity Building Services Group (Fidelity) companies best positioned to meet its evolving needs. From controls and HVAC modernization to energy analysis, incentives, monitoring, and campus-specific equipment replacements, each engagement has drawn on the expertise and geographic reach of Fidelity’s broader network.
The result is approximately $2.09 million in documented project value and a lasting client relationship that demonstrates how understanding a client’s needs and bringing the right capabilities to the table can create opportunities well beyond an initial engagement.
Background
Operating Companies
Fidelity Energy & Sustainability (FES)
Metro Mechanical, A Fidelity Company
Air One Industries (Air One), A Fidelity Company
Lyons Mechanical Services (Lyons), A Fidelity Company
United Mechanical (UM), A Fidelity Company
External Partners
Trane
Carrier
Honeywell
Distech Controls
Tridium’s Niagara Framework
Reflow by NiagaraMods
Industry
Higher Learning / Theological Education
Building Type
Multiple Campuses
Categories
Energy Efficiency
HVAC Modernization
Building Automation & Controls
Multi-Campus Portfolio Support
Project Locations
Jackson, Mississippi
Charlotte, North Carolina
Atlanta, Georgia
Oviedo, Florida
Gross Square Footage
Jackson Campus: 95,000 sf
Charlotte Campus: 38,000 sf
Atlanta Campus: 26,000 sf
Oviedo Campus: 48,000 sf
Higher Education
Across its campuses, RTS was facing a familiar challenge for an institution operating a portfolio of facilities: maintaining comfortable, dependable environments while managing increasingly outdated HVAC equipment, and mechanical and controls infrastructure.
The multi-campus footprint presented an opportunity as well as a challenge. A successful approach at one campus could inform future work elsewhere, while the differences between facilities meant that each project required its own assessment, scope, and delivery strategy.
Challenge
After RTS contacted PCE about their building systems at its Jackson, Mississippi, campus, PCE brought in Metro Mechanical, A Fidelity Company, a full-service commercial HVAC/Mechanical systems provider based in Mississippi, to handle both the initial controls modernization and the subsequent HVAC replacement work. The first project replaced the BAS and integrated 146 VAV terminals, seven RTUs, and exhaust-fan controls. New graphics, scheduling, trending, and web-based energy-management capabilities gave RTS greater visibility and control over the campus.
The second Jackson project expanded the work into mechanical infrastructure, replacing two Trane IntelliPak RTUs and 13 VAV boxes. The scope also included BAS integration, startup, testing, and commissioning.
After the successful work at the Jackson campus, PCE started to approach RTS's needs as a connected portfolio rather than a series of unrelated projects. As the relationship expanded, PCE brought in the Fidelity company best positioned to execute each scope. Fidelity Energy & Sustainability (FES), a national energy and sustainability initiative revolutionizing how energy-intensive facilities are transformed into sustainable environments, provided energy and financial analysis across the larger initiatives.
In Charlotte, PCE brought together Air One Industries (Air One), A Fidelity Company, a North Carolina-based HVAC/Mechanical provider, for mechanical work, and Lyons Mechanical Services (Lyons), A Fidelity Company, a provider of comprehensive HVAC/Mechanical solutions based in Kentucky, for controls to deliver a campus-wide HVAC and BAS modernization. The project included replacement of the split-system equipment along with a new BAS incorporating a JACE, Honeywell controllers, BACnet thermostats, sensors, graphics, alarms, scheduling, and monitoring.
In Atlanta, Lyons is providing the BAS and controls scope as part of a broader $320,000 HVAC and controls upgrade. The project includes replacement of four RTUs, one split system, and a data-room mini-split, along with airflow and office-comfort improvements. A Niagara/Reflow BAS and one year of 24/7 digital monitoring will provide the campus with greater visibility into building performance.
The Oviedo, Florida, opportunity demonstrates how this relationship extended to smaller, campus-specific needs. When RTS identified the need to replace an RTU, PCE introduced United Mechanical (UM), A Fidelity Company, a full-service mechanical contracting company based in Florida, to the client. UM replaced the RTU with a Carrier WeatherMaker packaged heat-pump RTU, connected the new equipment to the existing building utilities, completed startup, and verified proper operation.
Solutions
The most significant result of the RTS relationship is how one client engagement has expanded into opportunities for multiple Fidelity companies.
“OneRTS is about bringing the strength of the whole institution to each location so we can better serve our students and the Church,” said Ricky Rayborn, Chief Operating Officer of RTS. “Brad Schwartzman and the PCE team have understood that from the beginning, bringing the right Fidelity people to the table and helping us make better decisions, strengthen our facilities, and steward our resources well.”
To date, five documented projects represent approximately $2.09 million in combined value, spanning controls modernization, HVAC and VAV replacement, building automation, commissioning, monitoring, energy analysis, and incentive support. The Jackson controls project alone projected approximately $71,448 in annual energy savings, or $714,580 over 10 years, with a documented 3.1-year net ROI after incentives. Documented utility incentives across the projects total approximately $118,725, along with a $17,889 179D tax benefit associated with the Charlotte modernization.
These projects represent the practical value of Fidelity's breadth of capabilities and geographic reach: one relationship, multiple opportunities, and the right Fidelity company brought in to meet each client's needs.
Results
About Reformed Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) serves the Church by preparing its leaders through graduate theological education based on the authority of the inerrant Word of God and committed to the Reformed faith. With a priority on pastoral training, RTS equips servant leaders for ministry around the world through eight campuses and globally accessible online programs, forming students with "A Mind for Truth, A Heart for God."
About Power of Clean Energy
Power of Clean Energy (PCE), A Fidelity Company, helps commercial and industrial facilities meet their ESG sustainability goals, while reducing energy consumption, expenses, and carbon footprints. PCE provides comprehensive Energy Transition Planning & Project Implementation, utilizing state-of-the-art technologies, including Lighting, HVAC Redesign, and Building Automation & Analytics.
With custom solutions designed for specific buildings and budgets, PCE analyzes client energy usage, rate structures, and capital investment to create prioritized paybacks, contributing to increased building asset value and sustainable operation.
About Fidelity Building Services Group
Fidelity Building Services Group (Fidelity) is one of the nation’s leading providers of HVAC/Mechanical Services, Building Automation, Emergency Power, and Energy Solutions serving the Commercial/Industrial, Mission-Critical, Government, Education, and Healthcare markets. Fidelity’s leaders are some of the most highly regarded individuals in the service, construction, and engineering communities. Collectively, they share a commitment to advancing the cause of building energy efficiencies, sustainable energy solutions, and service excellence.
Founded in 1945 as a full-service mechanical engineering, contracting, and service company, Fidelity helped introduce air conditioning and process cooling to a new marketplace. Today, through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, Fidelity has expanded its geographic footprint to more than 75 locations throughout the United States. With over 80 years of excellence and 3,200 Team Members, Fidelity remains obsessed with delivering Proactive, World-Class Service.