Henry Ford Estate Powerhouse Heating System Replacement

FAIN: PF-50010-10

Regents of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382)
Robert Behrens (Project Director: December 2009 to March 2011)
Larry Hicks (Project Director: March 2011 to September 2011)
Larry Hicks (Project Director: September 2011 to September 2011)

An implementation project to install a new heating system and other improvements to help preserve the collections housed in the Power House facility at the Henry Ford Estate-Fair Lane, home of American industrialist Henry Ford and his family.

The activities of this project are part of a long-term effort to provide suitable collection environments at The Henry Ford Estate-Fair Lane, a National Historic Landmark. The Power House was, to Ford, the center and heart of the Estate. Uniquely, it housed a a water-powered electrical plant, sophisticated mechanical systems for the entire Estate, a working garage, and a private research lab (now used as Archives). This project will focus on reducing adverse winter conditions in the Power House collection environment by replacing the outdated, deteriorated, and dangerous steam-heating system, and equipping the many large windows with UV filters. This work will preserve and sustain the Power House collections by 1) eliminating detrimental temperature and humidity spikes caused by the current system's frequent malfunctions, 2) remove the annual risk of direct water damage from steam leaks, and 3) substantially reduce potential harm from UV light.