Historic | 360 Engineering, Inc

Background:

The National Park Service (NPS) stores, maintains, and displays historic collections, artifacts, and culturally significant pieces across various sites. Recognizing the need for efficient infrastructure, NPS seized the opportunity to relocate collections and archives from several sites in the Northwest Region into one larger facility at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Washington.

Key Objectives:

Reduce deferred maintenance
Decrease operation and maintenance (O&M) costs
Address museum standard deficiencies

Site Selection:

NPS chose Fort Vancouver Building 405 as the repository for collections from four national parks, totaling over 3 million items.

*Inside Building 405 – Before Construction (Photo Credit: Anderson Hallas Architects)*

Fort Vancouver Building 405 Rehabilitation Project

Facility Overview:

An existing 14,000-square-foot 1980s aircraft maintenance hangar
Selected for rehabilitation to serve as a museum collection storage facility
Dedicated spaces for object and archival storage, curated labs, and public viewing areas

Public Engagement Spaces:

Climate-controlled zones for high storage capacity
Visible spaces for public viewing in a preservation-friendly manner
Spaces for curatorial labs visible to the public
Large gathering spaces for school field trips and general assembly use

Mechanical System Options by 360 Engineering

Discovery and Presentation on Anderson Hallas Architect’s Team:

Based on our evaluation of the existing building and project goals, including 100% electrification, 360 Engineering explored various options
Presented options in a “Choosing By Advantage” or Value Analysis format, providing three options
Brennen Guy and Spencer Rioux presented to NPS staff at Fort Vancouver, addressing the pros and cons of each option

*360 Engineering Project Manager, Brennen Guy, PE (CO), Presenting to NPS*

Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System Selected:

Reasons for Selection:
- Minimizes ductwork to maximize storage space
- Accommodates varying occupancies, including critical storage, laboratories, assembly spaces, library, and offices
- Aligns with NPS’ energy-efficient principles, promoting reduced consumption and fossil fuel reliance

Advantages of VRF System:

Efficiently manages heating and cooling loads for diverse occupancies
Facilitates refrigerant heat recovery between zones, reducing energy waste
Aligns with NPS’ commitment to energy-efficient systems

*Fort Vancouver Building 405 Rendering (Photo Credit: Anderson Hallas Architects)*

Conclusion

Adopting the Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system for Fort Vancouver marks a significant step in realizing NPS’ Service-Wide Curation Facility Plan. This decision ensures optimal preservation conditions for the extensive collection while promoting energy efficiency in line with NPS’ principles.

Ready to upgrade your building or project with electrification? Let’s discuss your Mechanical Engineering needs today. Contact us to book a 30-minute consultation.

What a weekend for Doors Open Denver! In true Colorado fashion, we received a sizeable snow storm on Friday into Saturday, but that did not hinder locals and visitors from participating in this annual, free two-day event, April 29 & 30. Organized by the Denver Architectural Foundation, Doors Open Denver provides an opportunity to explore some of Denver’s iconic spaces, including many historic buildings and spaces with unique architectural design. Many of these sites are not otherwise open to the public. With nearly 70 sites to visit this year, it was tough to hit them all in two days, so here are a few highlights.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Location: 1280 Vine Street

There was special interest in visiting St. Barnabas since 360 Engineering was involved with the most recent renovation, along with Anderson Hallas Architects’ team. Originally built in 1891, the church has undergone several renovations and additions over the years. Most recently in 2016, there was a full remodel of the parish hall, including classrooms, office and work space, and a commercial kitchen, plus an opening up of space between the existing sanctuary and Fellowship Hall to accommodate the growing congregation. Staff members are so excited about the recent remodel, especially the commercial kitchen addition to use for special events and outreach ministries; and updated HVAC ventilation which offers better cooling/heating options for their offices and classrooms.

The Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion

Location: 400 E. 8th Avenue

Built in 1907, “Colorado’s Home” was designed and constructed by prominent Denver family, the Cheesman’s. Unfortunately, Walter Cheesman died before the home’s completion in 1908, and upon Mrs. Cheeseman’s death in 1923, it was sold to the Boettcher family. Claude Boettcher died in 1957, and his wife the following year. The home was then offered to the State of Colorado to be used as the Governor’s residence. Although the gift was initially rejected by the state, accused of being to lavish for a public servant’s residence, the state eventually accepted it as the official Governor’s residence. The tour was complete with a sighting of our current Governor walking around the outdoor patio on a phone call!

The Sugar Cube Building

Location: 1555 Blake Street

The Sugar Cube Building, built in 2008, is a modern ten-story neighbor to the historic 1906 Sugar Building, which was home to Great Western Sugar Company. This modern structure’s exterior was designed to fit into the historic district and features retail space on the first floor, offices on floors two through four, and luxury apartments on floors five through ten. Those residents living in the Sugar Cube Building, not only have full-service concierge, gym memberships, parking, and storage, they also have incredible views of Denver and beyond.

A special thank you to the Denver Architectural Foundation and all the volunteers who made this event possible. It’s evident there’s a lot of work that goes into organizing this wonderful event! To learn more about Doors Open Denver and this year’s sites, visit their website: http://doorsopendenver.com/

Tag: Historic

The Power of Electrification in Preservation: NPS Fort Vancouver Museum Facility