[en] An outcome of the Joint Review Panel that evaluated the proposal by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) for the Darlington New Nuclear Project was that OPG must undertake a formal quantitative cost-benefit analysis for cooling tower versus once-through condenser cooling water systems. While OPG's analysis concluded the preference for the once-through condenser approach, the possibility for using cooling towers remains. This paper presents an analysis of the different cooling tower designs that could be used for a potential CANDU new build at the Darlington Site. The work was completed in partial fulfilment of the requirements of a capstone design project by a group of nuclear engineering students. The project considered the various cooling tower designs used in similar applications for both nuclear and thermal power plants, and identified the preferred option based on criteria such as: energy penalty, cost, thermal/aquatic effects, social acceptance and land use. (author)