Protecting The Phillips Collection Thermal Upgrade Enhances Historical D.C. Building By Steven Gillis

comprehensive upgrade to control, create zone-based flexibility, new, high-efficiency, condensing hot- The Phillips Collection’s and minimize long-term maintenance. water boilers with heating water pumps Ahistorical house gallery in are also located in the new penthouse. Washington, D.C., has provided the Upgrading Temperature museum with a state-of-the-art digiti zed N O

and Humidity Control I temperature and humidity control T C

Highlights of the renovation included U

system designed to enhance visitor R T

equipping the gallery and related S

comfort and protect the art collection N O

support spaces with modern, energy- C for future generations. The project was I L

efficient HVAC systems, including a G completed in June 2018, well in advance I S

100% outside air-handling system with N of The Phillips Collection’s centennial O C an exhaust-air energy-recovery wheel. / in 2021. Although galleries within Y H

The system serves multiple variable- P the house were closed, the museum A R remained open during the renovation, volume air-handling units that provide G O conditioned air to new direct digital- T providing access to collections as well O H P as to a full complement of programs. controlled, zone-level, air-terminal N O

units. The major HVAC systems and S I D

related air-terminal units are located A M

A Distinctive Setting

in a new architectural penthouse that D I

The Phillips Collection, known as V removed the original roof structure and A “America’s First Museum of Modern associated roof-mounted HVAC systems. D Art,” is located in the Dupont Circle A new, architecturally screened, neighborhood of northwest Washington, high-efficiency chiller fitted with sound- D.C. The museum houses paintings by attenuating components was also Pierre-Auguste Renoir, including the provided. The chiller is sized for the iconic Luncheon of the Boating Party , full load of the Phillips house and will as well as works by Mark Rothko, serve as a back-up to the chiller plant Paul Cézanne, Pierre Bonnard, on the roof of the Goh Annex. A pair of New HVAC systems being installed. Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Klee, Georgia O’Keeffe, Vincent van N O Gogh, Richard Diebenkorn, and many I T C other notable Impressionists and U R T contemporary artists. S N O

The Phillips Collection maintains C

I L

three connected buildings—the G I S

Sant Building, the Goh Annex, and the N O C circa-1897 Georgian Revival home of / Y H museum founder Duncan Phillips— P A R in addition to a former carriage house G O T

now converted into the University of O H P

Maryland Center for Art and Knowl - N O

edge at The Phillips Collection. The S I D

renovation project primarily focused on A M

the original, four-story house, which D I V has served as the museum’s home A since it opened in 1921. Here, dated D building systems were replaced with energy-efficient new systems that will improve temperature and humidity Upgrade in process at the Phillips house.

38 PAPYRUS SUMMER –FALL 2018 The new air-terminal units with hot- character of the building was not com - The team also included Consigli water reheat coils provide individual promised. Existing drawings lacked Construction, a construction manage - zone control, and were connected to detail and challenged the design and ment firm that has renovated many existing duct distribution systems to the construction team to route the new American museums along the East fullest practical extent, while new supply systems to suit the existing and variable Coast; Simpson Gumpertz & Heger grilles and return grilles were added structural features of the original Inc. for structural engineering; and to improve air distribution. The air- building. The team’s use of Revit ® JM Zell Partners as the owner’s repre - handling units serving the gallery spaces software for the 3-D building model sentative. Understanding the historical are fitted with modu lating humidifiers facilitated the design development character of this project, the team served by a new treated-water system. and coordination of the disciplines worked very closely to reconcile hidden A new building automation system as the project progressed. and unforeseen conditions that were has also been provided to serve the Bowie Gridley Architects’ design of a discovered as the solid finishes of this Phillips house systems, and has been mansard-style, copper-shingle-clad roof - historic structure were unveiled. integrated into the existing system in top penthouse received neigh borhood “Doing this important work in the Goh Annex and Sant building. support and the approval of the D.C. advance of the museum’s centennial Additional upgrades included modi fi - Historic Preservation Review Board. The lays the groundwork to improve the cations to the existing fire suppression, new penthouse encloses the majority visitor experience and ensure the fire alarm, electrical power, lighting, of the new mechanical equipment preservation of the collection for and plumbing systems to suit the and zone reheat coils and humidifiers, future generations of art lovers renovation requirements. which is a vast improvement over the and enthusiasts,” said Thomas D. original system with rooftop air-handling Rutherfoord, Jr., trustee and chair of units, exposed ducts above the roof the buildings and grounds committee A Team Effort that hindered per sonnel access, and for The Phillips Collection. The mechanical, electrical, and zone-level reheat coils and humidifiers plumb ing engineering firm of Mueller above the ceilings of the historical Steve Gillis, PE is a vice-president with Associates supported Bowie Gridley building. Improved staff administrative Mueller Associates. He served as project Architects on the project, coordi nating support space was created on the top manager for the mechanical, electrical, closely to ensure that the historical floor below the new penthouse. and plumbing services for the renovation. N O I T C U R T S N O C

I L G I S N O C / Y H P A R G O T O H P

N O S I D A M

D I V A D

Roof-mounted HVAC systems being installed.

PAPYRUS SUMMER –FALL 2018 39