“I think they’re kind of mysterious .Is it true? Are there actually tunnels?”
From the basement of Lake Ontario Hall, Yumi Jakobic, Office of Sustainability Practices Director, stepped into the university’s legendary tunnels – a two-mile underground network carrying centralizing heat and chilled water systems, electricity, fiber and fire wire, spiderwebbing under nearly all academic buildings.
“It’s a fun thing because people aren’t sure if they exist and they do.”
Associate Vice President of Facilities Services Rence Meridith explains the tunnels were first bored in the 1960’s during campus construction.
“We had to do this when the buildings were built and added on to the campus. To start that way was really genius in my opinion because it’s the right way to do it.”
The Valley Campus gets 50% of its electric capacity from renewable sources and hosts a Consumers Energy solar garden.
Its four-acre farm serves as a classroom for agriculture students and cultivates fresh produce served on campus.
GVSU has multiple certified “green” buildings, recycling programs, and offers more than 400 classes with sustainability content.
GVSU was ranked no. 13 on the Princeton Review’s Top 50 Green Colleges list for 2026.
Student Josh Ostrowski was impressed by the information and tunnel tour.
“I think it’s pretty fascinating and cool that we’re walking above but inside its kind of like a human body’s inner matrix working and I thought that was pretty interesting and I’d like to see more of it.”
So, did the students see their shadows after a trip to the underground burrow?
Dean of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies Mark Shaub shared the very non-scientific result:
“Early spring here in Allendale, Michigan! You’re going to be on a patio drinking margaritas by early March.”
Just be sure to recycle your cup.
Leaders from the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services also shared highlights from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS report.
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