| Fenimore House
Cooperstown, NY Consulting Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Completed 1995 Architects: Hardy, Holzman, Pfeiffer Associates |
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The original Fenimore House was completely renovated to include new Museum support spaces (cafe and shop), temporary exhibition spaces, and offices and other administrative spaces. A new addition was added entirely below grade to house the New York Historical Society's extensive collection of Native American artifacts. The new wing was provided with a state of the art climate control system serving both galleries as well as collection storage.
Our analysis of the existing mansion determine that it would be cost prohibitive to improve the existing envelope to tolerate the required gallery/art storage environment. The existing structure was improved, but only to house administrative and other less demanding occupancies. Space humidity is gradually "ramped" from a high of 50% in summer to a low of 30% in winter. This is done to preclude the possibility of condensation forming within the exterior walls.
The entire mechanical and electrical infrastructure was replaced. A new chiller/boiler plant was added. The refrigeration heat rejection system was designed as air cooled to minimize seasonal maintenance and to allow operation of the plant without full time facilities staffing.