As part of University of Pennsylvania’s long term infrastructure upgrades, the existing electrical substation, previously in Harnwell College House, was slated for replacement. The aging equipment from the 70’s, coupled with it being below grade and being susceptible to flooding, required that a site be identified for a new substation. OZ Collaborative was brought on to develop a comprehensive plan for a new free-standing building to house the electrical equipment that would feed over 30 buildings on campus and have capacity for growth. The design consists of a simple but elegant 2,200 SF textured brick building oriented north south along a service drive. The plan of the building is driven solely by the functional requirements of the electrical equipment within that need access and serviceability for many decades to come. Access to the building requires all the doors on the east side of the building along the service drive. The west elevation faces a landscaped lawn with pedestrian paths used by students from the neighboring dormitories where we introduced additional native plants. The building’s low brick wall seems to emerge from the landscape and is interrupted by slender recesses that extend through the stone parapet and provide light to the interior. In the evening, the vertical slots of glass provide a soft glow of light to contrast with the rough texture of the adjacent brick.