The chiller in the science building contains four 30 ton reciprocating compressors. The building chilled water and hot water loops flow through the chiller evaporator and condenser respectively, to the building heating and cooling coils, and through the heat exchanger connected to the groundwater supply. There are unit ventilators on the perimeter zones in the building. The air handlers for the core of the building are located in mechanical rooms. There are fan coil units in the north and east zones.
Chilled water is supplied to the fan coils in the new addition.
Steam heat from the main boiler plant is used for heating in the new portion of the building. The heat pumps absorb or reject heat to a water loop that circulates through the building. The water loop is connected to a heat exchanger that transfers heat to or from the groundwater system. At the time the science building was designed, the majority of the Whitman College campus received steam from a central steam plant for heating. There was limited cooling capacity supplied by window air conditioners.