Replacement and Upgrading of HVAC Mechanical and Control Systems Serving the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

FAIN: PF-230208-15

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA 23185-4138)
Robert Underwood (Project Director: November 2014 to November 2016)
Carl McColey (Project Director: November 2016 to October 2017)
Patricia Anne Silence (Project Director: October 2017 to March 2021)

The replacement and upgrade of obsolete environmental systems and controls at the art museums of Colonial Williamsburg based on previous environmental monitoring and planning. The varied holdings present a cross section of American folk arts, decorative arts, and fine arts.

A NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections implementation grant will be used to replace and upgrade the obsolete HVAC mechanical and control systems currently in place at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, allowing us to enhance the preservation of our collections and reduce our associated energy use and costs by using time-tested engineering and equipment modifications. Replacement of the current HVAC control system will correct long-standing building pressurization problems and permit essential programming of five air handlers that deliver conditioned air to site. It also will permit us to determine if we may effect periods of energy-saving passive control via equipment shutdowns or setbacks. Numerous institutions also using older air handling units will benefit from our ability to share the project's results, especially the cost/benefit analysis and the energy-saving experimentation with systems setbacks, shutdowns and seasonal set point adjustments.