Oklahoma City Archives | Vicinity Energy

Vicinity Energy collaborated with several industry partners to provide a speedy and flexible solution for an NBA arena

Posted on June 8, 2026June 9, 2026 by Bella Pace

Industry

Hospitality

Location

Oklahoma City, OK

Square footage

581,000

The customer

Home to the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, the Paycom Center has been a cornerstone of Oklahoma City since 2002. It’s owned and operated by the City of Oklahoma City and has hosted more than 1,200 events since its opening.

With a capacity of over 18,000 seats and over 500,000 square feet of building space, the arena is designed to NBA and National Hockey League standards. The multi-purpose venue also hosts an array of entertainment events including professional sports, concerts, and live TV such as WWE.

The challenge

The City of Oklahoma City passed a bond issue in 2023 to build a new arena to replace the Paycom Center. The site selected for the new arena was a city-owned facility that provided onsite heating and cooling to the Paycom Center. To start the demolition of the new arena site, the city needed to provide an alternate source for heating and cooling to the original Paycom Center. They also needed to avoid disruptions to the arena event schedule, which included the NBA season.

The solution

The Paycom Center needed to solve its heating and cooling needs very quickly. So, Vicinity Energy worked alongside several industry partners to produce a completely unique solution.

Providing speedy solutions that keep buildings running

Vicinity teamed up with engineering firm FSB, equipment supplier EEI, and local contractor United Mechanical. The team leveraged EEI’s long-term relationship with Grundfos, an international manufacturer, to produce a heating and cooling system that was reliable but could be installed rather quickly.

In this system, hot water and chilled water equipment was designed for Grundfos to mount on skids. The skids were manufactured offsite at a Grundfos facility to ensure no onsite disruption at the Paycom Center. When complete, the skids were transported to the Paycom Center, wheeled in, piped up, and turned on. Without disrupting major operations within the building, the Paycom Arena could now leverage Vicinity’s heating and cooling services for its facilities.

The following video provides more information about the installation process:

Flexible solutions for customers in downtown Oklahoma City

The Paycom Center plays an integral role in Oklahoma City. It’s home to a premier NBA franchise and is a popular venue for hosting live events. Vicinity Energy was chosen because of its flexibility and customizable solutions, allowing the City of Oklahoma City to make necessary improvements without jeopardizing critical operations.

The partnership between Vicinity Energy, FSB, United Mechanical, EEI, and Grundfos enabled the Paycom Center to quickly implement a reliable, flexible heating and cooling solution. By leveraging district energy and innovative equipment, the venue achieved significant cost savings while providing a comfortable guest experience for attendees.

Benefits

Maximized building space

Scalability & flexibility

99.99% reliability

Engineering Under Pressure: Grundfos’ Innovative Solution at the Paycom Center

Posted on April 15, 2026May 27, 2026 by Vicinity Energy

When our customers at the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City needed to transition hot and chilled water service to the new arena in time for the OKC Thunder season, Vicinity and our partners came together to manage this complex project.

This new case study form Grundfos highlights how the Oklahoma City Paycom Center is improving performance through a collaborative approach with Engineered Equipment Inc., FSB Architects + Engineers and Vicinity Energy.

Watch the full video to hear from Vicinity’s General Manager Todd Lewis on how the team ensured uninterrupted service while driving long-term reliability and efficiency for the arena.

Cities work because district energy works

Posted on February 5, 2026May 27, 2026 by Bella Pace

Today, and every day, we’re paying tribute to those who put their hearts, minds, and backs into what they do for the good of our cities.

Together with our customers, partners, and community members, Vicinity Energy is building a stronger future for our cities, and district energy is part of that solution.

Accelerating downtown decarbonization with district energy

Posted on September 17, 2025May 27, 2026 by Vicinity Energy

Vicinity Energy’s President and CEO Kevin Hagerty, along with Chief Sustainability Officer Matt O’Malley, participated in this informative webinar, “Accelerating Downtown Decarbonization with District Energy”, focused on the future of electrification strategies in downtown steam networks. The session, hosted by the International District Energy Association (IDEA), brought together leading voices in the district energy space to explore practical solutions for decarbonizing urban infrastructure.

Held virtually and featuring experts from across the country, the webinar highlighted how district energy systems are evolving to meet the growing demand for sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon heating solutions. As cities around the world set ambitious climate goals, the transition to electrified, carbon-free energy systems has become more urgent than ever.

The discussion centered on how major metropolitan areas like New York City, San Francisco, and Boston and Cambridge are leveraging district energy to support their climate mandates. These include New York’s Local Law 97, which sets strict emissions limits for large buildings; San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2040; and Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), designed to cut carbon emissions from existing buildings.

Hagerty and O’Malley shared insights into Vicinity’s own electrification journey, including innovative technologies like electric boilers and industrial-scale heat pumps that are key to decarbonizing its steam systems.

As the largest owner and operator of district energy systems in the United States, Vicinity Energy continues to provide innovative solutions that enable cities to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining reliable, safe energy service.

Clean Steam Ahead: Boston Pioneers Innovative Heating Tech

Posted on August 19, 2025August 19, 2025 by Bella Pace

The Boston Globe Climate Club Explores: Climate Innovation

Posted on October 2, 2024May 27, 2026 by Vicinity Energy

Vicinity Energy’s CEO Kevin Hagerty took part in an Energy Innovations panel, hosted by The Boston Globe and presented by the Museum of Science. The panel explored the past, present, and future of energy innovations, including what has shaped the current landscape and the groundbreaking advancements that are driving us toward a sustainable future. Climate reporter Sabrina Shankman moderated the dynamic conversation between Kevin and the Executive Director of HEETlabs, Audrey Schulman, and the Chief Technology Officer of Innovation at Schneider Electric, Scott Harden.

Oklahoma State University Partners with Vicinity Energy for Sustainable District Energy

Posted on September 3, 2024December 9, 2025 by Vicinity Energy

Tulsa, September 5, 2024—Vicinity Energy, a leader in decarbonization with the nation’s largest portfolio of district energy systems, has partnered with Oklahoma State University (OSU) to provide chilled water and steam service to a new medical campus. This project will combine multiple existing buildings into a state-of-the-art hospital. Vicinity will serve the entire 58-bed medical-surgical inpatient hospital for Oklahoma veterans, totaling over 275,000 square feet of building space.

The medical campus will use steam and chilled water for space heating and cooling, domestic hot water, and direct steam humidification. By choosing district energy, the campus will reduce the emissions associated with its onsite operations.

Nearly 100% of the condensate water will be returned and reused at Vicinity’s facility. This sustainable practice conserves water and enhances the system’s overall efficiency, aligning with Vicinity’s commitment to a clean energy future.

By utilizing district energy, the medical campus will experience enhanced reliability, better redundancy, and greater energy efficiency compared to operating onsite equipment. This ensures a stable and efficient energy supply, which is crucial for the continuous and reliable operation of the medical facility.

“This partnership reflects our dedication to operational excellence,” said Dr. Johnny Stephens, president of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. “By integrating Vicinity’s district energy solutions, we are not only minimizing our carbon footprint but also enhancing the reliability and efficiency of our medical facilities. This collaboration ensures that we provide our veterans with a safe and environmentally responsible healthcare environment.”

“At Vicinity, our priority is delivering innovative, sustainable energy solutions tailored to the unique needs of our customers,” said Kevin Hagerty, CEO and president of Vicinity. “We’re proud that OSU has chosen district energy for its reliability and environmental benefits, entrusting us with the opportunity to power their state-of-the-art medical campus. This partnership not only significantly reduces OSU’s onsite carbon emissions but also positively impacts the campus and the surrounding community.”

Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across its entire portfolio while offering sustainable solutions to help decarbonize its customers and communities. In Tulsa, Vicinity plans to implement electric boilers and heat recovery heat pumps, leveraging renewable energy sources to decarbonize its operations. This initiative will allow Vicinity to provide Tulsa customers with its carbon-free thermal energy product, eSteam™.

About Vicinity Energy

Vicinity Energy is the largest owner and operator of district energy systems dedicated to decarbonizing its operations and investing in innovative renewable thermal energy technologies to offer carbon-free eSteam™ to its customers. Operating 19 district energy systems in 12 cities, Vicinity delivers reliable and sustainable steam, hot water, and chilled water to 250 million square feet of building space nationwide. As Vicinity advances its electrification efforts across its locations, the goal to achieve net zero by 2050 is more than a commitment—it’s a mission. Learn more about Vicinity’s vision for a clean energy future at www.vicinityenergy.us.

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