| After 70 years of service the original air handling unit (top) was still operated by an antiquated leather belt drive, while the old damping unit was in dire need renovation. |
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A New Air Handler for the DIA
By Wendi Sawchuk, Associate Editor
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) building is currently undergoing a massive renovation and expansion project that is scheduled for completion in 2005. Renovations to the museum, under the construction management of a Walbridge, Aldinger Co./ Jenkins Construction, Inc. joint venture, include a four-story, 35,000-square-foot addition to the south wing, increased gallery space, and extensive infrastructure upgrades. A major part of the project is upgrading the mechanical system within the museum for improved air circulation and conditioning. Any building that houses such a large collection of fine art depends on an efficient and reliable state-of-the-art air circulation
system for preservation purposes. These precious works of art are very sensitive to their environment and an unstable climate can cause irreparable damage.
The Diego Rivera gallery is one of the largest galleries in the museum. One of the mechanical renovations was to replace the antiquated air handler that served the spacious Rivera Gallery with a new, more efficient, custom-manufactured air handler. The old unit operated on an antiquated DC motor with a 26-foot-long, 12-inch-wide leather belt, as opposed to a more modern AC motor. According to Jeffrey Wooten, president of Griffin International, LLC, a representative for custom air handling systems, “The old air handler had become unreliable and a risk to the museum environment. It did not accomplish any of the specific control needs in terms of museum humidity and temperature control.” This replacement was a major undertaking for everyone involved due to the challenges it presented.
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