National Museum of the American Indian
About this Project
Awards
Buildings Magazine Modernization Awards Competition, 1997 |
Client
Project date
current
Industry sectors
Services we performed
MEP Engineering
Security Consulting
The museum is housed in this famous Beaux Arts-style building, the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, designed by architect Cass Gilbert. It is a designated National Historic Landmark and a New York City landmark.
We managed the MEP design for the restoration and adaptive reuse of this historic structure designed in 1900.
The museum includes:
- 19,000 SF of exhibition space
- A state-of-the-art 345-seat auditorium
- A museum shop
- Administrative offices
- A resource center
- Exhibit support space
The initial systems upgrade included the installation of a new chilled water system with both absorption and screw chiller machines. The HVAC design included a new air handler system and a new DDC automatic temperature control system.
A special air quality control system was required in the exhibition space to monitor the temperature and humidity in the air to preserve organic materials contained in the exhibit artifacts. Other utility systems included a new electric distribution system, fire alarm system, new fire protection system, and an upgrade and interface to the existing security system.
Our construction phase work involved extensive construction administration, on-site involvement, and startup assistance.
The base project won the Buildings Magazine Modernization Award in 1997.
