The
building systems for this much celebrated museum presented
many engineering challenges. The building’s unique
exterior could not be compromised visually by the obvious
placement of external mechanical equipment. Also, the
museum’s program, with is many galleries and public
assembly spaces, required systems to address wide variances
in occupancy levels while also maintaining proper environmental
conditions for the art work. Heating and cooling are
accomplished by a central mechanical plan located in
the structure’s basement. Cooling towers are located
remote to the plant and are fully screened with architectural
walls and grills. Both aesthetics and careful environmental
control determined the HVAC system design for this museum’s
galleries. Each gallery is served by an individual,
fully screened air handling room. Ventilation systems
within each gallery provide even, quiet, low velocity
air distribution with minimal impact to interior architecture.
Outlets for supply and return air are concealed within
the architecture of each space. Supply air is distributed
through ducts and continuous architectural supply air
slots concealed within the top of the wall. Return air
enters the walls through continuous return air slots
in the floor and is circulated through the wall cavities
to allow for the control of temperature and humidity
levels on interior wall surfaces where artwork is displayed.
Special equipment for ventilation and hazardous chemical
storage was provided for workshops and conservation
labs. Internal air purification is achieved through
the use of chemical particulate filtration which eliminates
toxic and detrimental gases from the atmosphere. This
project allowed Cosentini to design systems that became
part of the overall architecture of the museum.
|
