| High Museum of Art
Atlanta, GA Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Completion Date: 1984 Architects: Richard Meier & Partners
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This totally new museum building (125,000 ft2) was designed with climate control, energy management, security, fire protection, lighting and power systems to accommodate the expansion needs of the Atlanta Arts Centers. Centralized security and fire protection staff monitor all systems through a central computerized building sercurity information center.
The building contains a large atrium space which serves as a major means of public circulation. AltieriSeborWieber provided a design for a fire suppression system using a pre-action sprinklers together with an engineered smoke control system which established a precedent for these concepts for Museums. The use of electricity as the primary source of energy together with one a first generation centrifugal heat recovery chillers proved economical for the Atlanta area.
Major air systems are cross connected to permit un-interrupted climate control service to all areas of the museum in the event of a major component failure.
AltieriSeborWieber assisted the architect in the design of the exterior metal panel cladding system. Of concern was the possibility of condensation occurring within the exterior panel system. The evaluation of the vapor barrier and the performance of detailed vapor diffusion analysis by the HVAC engineer is now a common practice in the design of museums.