The Wildlife Conservation Society Archives comprises records created over WCS’s 119-year history. The Archives is currently undergoing a revitalization led by major improvements to the care of and access to the collections. Recently, WCS Administration identified a new location for the collections, which offers a far stronger opportunity than the current location to develop a sustainable preservation environment. The proposed project will result in the WCS Archives Conceptual Preservation Design Plan. Founded upon preservation strategies balancing effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact, this plan will serve as the crucial first step in the Archives’ relocation to this new space. By convening an interdisciplinary team to work collaboratively on this plan, the Archives seeks to develop the foundation that will guide the sustainable protection of the WCS Archives’ physical collections and the continued study and enjoyment of these unique collections by future generations

Anna Tobin D'Ambrosio

Ronald Draper

Humanities Commons

White PaperReport ID: 116099Application Number: PF-230348-15Project Director: Anna Tobin D'AmbrosioInstitution: Munson-Williams-Proctor InstituteReporting Period: 10/1/2015-9/30/2016Report Due: 12/31/2016Date Submitted: 12/30/2016Climate	Control	Improvements-Planning	Phase	Grant	Number	PF-230348-15	Munson-Williams-Proctor	Arts	Institute	White	Paper	Munson-Williams-Proctor	Arts	Institute	(MWPAI)	successfully	carried	out	all	aspects	of	the	project	Climate	Control	Improvements-Planning	Phase.		The	project	was	completed	on	schedule	and	without	significant	deviation	from	the	original	work	plan.		The	goal	of	the	project	was	to	understand	the	causes	of	fluctuations	in	the	interior	climate	of	the	Philip	Johnson	designed	MWPAI	Museum	of	Art	and	to	develop	a	proposed	solution.		Williamstown	Arts	Conservation	Center	(WACC)	was	contracted	to	do	a	detailed	evaluation	of	current	conditions	and	set	temperature	and	humidity	goals	for	the	structure’s	exhibition,	storage	and	office	space.		Upon	completion	of	the	WACC	evaluation,	Intelligent	Converted	Energy	was	contracted	to	determine	the	cause	of	recorded	fluctuations	in	temperature	and	relative	humidity	and	establish	a	work	plan	for	repairs	and	upgrades	that	would	provide	long-term	climate	control	stability	for	the	interior	of	this	landmark	museum	building.	Climate	Control	System	Improvements-Planning	Phase,	began	in	October,	2015	with	WACC	Object	Conservator	and	Department	Head	Hélène	Gillette-Woodard’s	detailed	assessment	of	the	Johnson	building’s	climate	conditions.	This	assessment	was	carried	out	through	the	collection	of	data	recorded	year	round	by	a	number	of	HOBO	data	loggers	in	place	throughout	the	Museum	exhibition	and	storage	areas.	This	was	followed	by	an	onsite	visit.	Her	conclusions	and	recommendations	were	based	on	the	latest	industry	recognized	standards	for	the	exhibit	of	artworks.	Following	receipt	of	the	WACC	report	in	November,	James	Carucci	P.E.	of	ICE	carried	out	extensive	data	collection	and	onsite	investigation	resulting	in	Sustainable	HVAC	Planning	Report.	ICE	designed	this	report	with	the	standards	set	forth	in	The	American	Society	of	Heating,	Refrigerating	and	Air-Conditioning	Engineers	(ASHRAE)	Applications	Handbook,	as	its	guide.		The	ICE	report	contains	a	thorough	assessment	of	the	causes	of	climate	fluctuations	as	well	as	a	work	plan	with	cost	estimates	designed	to	address	them.	In	the	WACC	report,	Ms.	Gillette-Woodard	determined	that:	“The	present	environment	found	in	the	Johnson	building	correlates	directly	to	changes	in	the	outside	environment….	It	is	when	there	are	changes	in	the	outside	environment	that	the	present	system	cannot	maintain	a	stable	environment….	During	extreme	weather,	both	the	temperature	and	[relative	humidity]	would	fluctuate	5	to	10	degrees	F	and	10	to	25%	within	a	given	day,	week	or	month.	Sometimes	the	RH	would	have	spikes	of	a	wider	range	of	fluctuation	in	the	spring,	summer	and	fall	month(s).”	She	describes	“unique	periods	where	the	RH	in	galleries	can	change	20%	or	above	in	a	24	hour	period.	And	other	than	these	unique	periods	of	extreme	change,	there	are	seasonal	periods	such	as	seen	in	April.	In	this	month	all	three	of	the	galleries	and	the	auditorium	level	show	the	problem	of	15-40%	oscillations	in	RH	occurring	on	a	daily	basis	as	the	HVAC	is	responding	to	changes	in	the	outdoor	weather.	The	temperature	as	a	whole	remains	stable	and	only	fluctuates	on	average	between	68	and	72◦	F,	which	follows	the	previous	approach	to	museum	environments	of	trying	to	maintain	a	very	stable	environment	with	no	changes.	However,	trying	to	maintain	the	temperature	within	this	tight	range	all	year	did	not	allow	for	the	changes	in	RH	that	occurred	in	response	to	the	exterior	weather.	These	changes	in	RH	may	not	only	be	an	issue	with	the	old	mixing	boxes	in	the	HVAC	system,	but	also	the	insulating	envelope	of	the	building.”	Outlining	the	class	of	climate	control	(as	defined	by	the	Canadian	Conservation	Institute’s	Environmental	Guidelines	for	Museums)	most	appropriate	for	the	MWPAI	Museum	of	Art	collection,	Ms.	Gillette-Woodard	determined	that	the	goal	should	be	to	establish	a	Type	A	Class	of	Control.	This	would	allow	for	short-term	fluctuations	in	temperature	of	equal	to	or	less	than	5◦	F	and	RH	fluctuations	of	plus	or	minus	5%.	Seasonal	adjustments	in	system	set	points	should	be	up	10%	or	down	10%	for	RH,	and	up	10◦	F	and	down	18◦	F.	Starting	in	December	of	2015	James	Carucci,	P.E.	of	Intelligent	Converted	Energy	(ICE),	began	an	investigation	into	the	sources	of	these	recorded	environmental	fluctuations.	ICE	is	a	highly	experienced	Central	New	York	State	company	that	specializes	in	developing	energy-efficient	and	environmentally	friendly	climate	control	systems.	ICE	has	worked	with	several	central	New	York	school	districts,	and	has	previously	worked	with	MWPAI	to	reconfigure	their	computer-based	energy	management	systems	to	increase	energy	efficiency.	Assessment	of	Museum	classification,	requirements,	envelope,	equipment,	controls	using	site	investigation,	record	drawings,	and	data	acquisition	and	analysis,	yielded	the	following	determinations:	1. Class	of	Control:	a. Type	A,	with	short-term	fluctuation	and	seasonal	set	point	migration	must	be	the	goal	of	HVAC	system	repairs	and	upgrades	based	on	the	WACC	report.	2. Building	Heat	&	Moisture	Sources:	a. There	are	two	aspects	to	the	ambient	affect.	These	are	ambient	air	conditions,	and	soil	moisture	conditions.	b. Moisture	transmission	from	unenclosed	return	air	paths	is	significant	and	persistent.	c. Primary	sources	of	heat	transmission	are	a	combination	of	return	air	paths,	walls,	and	glass.	3. Building	envelope:	a. Air	Handling	Units	(AHU)	return	air	paths	are	unenclosed	without	any	form	of	insulation,	air	or	vapor	barrier.	This	is	the	source	of	over	50%	of	the	building’s	moisture.	b. The	loading	dock	interface	to	the	Museum	is	wholly	inadequate	for	this	application.	c. The	top	floor	ceiling	cavity	and	exterior	walls	are	bare	concrete	and	pass	heat	and	moisture	as	water	vapor.	d. Basement	and	Sub-Basement	exterior	walls	store	and	pass	soil	moisture	as	water	vapor.	e. Ground	floor	exterior	glass	(windows,	doors,	atrium).	f. Above	ground	walls	are	adequate	for	thermal	resistance,	and	good	for	air	and	water	vapor	resistance.	i. Addition	of	secondary	walls	(a	WACC	recommendation)	is	not	a	viable	option	due	to	moisture	control	issues.	4. Mechanical	equipment	general	condition	and	performance	is	good,	with	notable	exceptions	of:	a. AHU-3	and	AHU-4	supply	air	flows	are	too	high,	thwarting	dehumidification	performance.	b. 101	Mixing	Boxes	(dating	to	1959),	which	are	designed	to	flexibly	mix	outside	and	inside	air,	are	aging	and	use	unreliable	pneumatic	controls.	Recalibration	is	an	exercise	in	futility.	Parts	and	instrumentation	are	no	longer	readily	available.	At	any	given	time	roughly	two-third	of	the	mixing	boxes	are	either	mechanically	impaired	or	out	of	calibration.	c. The	loading	dock	fan	coil	unit	is	inadequate	for	this	application.	5. Energy	Management	&	Control	System	(EMCS)	which	provides	control	of	temperature/humidity:	a. Provides	incomplete	monitoring	and	control	of	critical	equipment	(Mixing	Boxes,	Humidifiers).	b. Provides	woefully	inadequate	environmental	control	stability,	accuracy,	and	energy	management.	c. The	infrastructure	(server,	field	controllers)	is	old	technology	and	relatively	unreliable.	ICE’s	investigation	yielded	the	following	recommendations	in	order	of	project	impact:	1. AHU-3	and	4	return	air	paths	must	be	fully	enclosed,	sealed	and	insulated	in	order	to	eliminate	the	current	significant	compromise	of	system	environmental	control	performance,	in	particular	RH	fluctuations.	2. The	current	Carrier	EMCS	must	be	replaced	in	favor	of	a	system	that	will	enable	implementation	of	algorithms	and	features	that	are	appropriate	for	a	Museum	application.	Mechanical	systems	cannot	perform	properly,	for	a	Museum	application,	without	this	measure.	3. AHU-3	and	AHU-4	supply	air	flows	must	be	reduced,	and	capable	of	variable	speed	adjustment,	in	order	to	enable	better	system	dehumidification	performance,	as	well	as	reduce	energy	consumption.	They	currently	operate	at	constant	volume.	4. All	101	mixing	boxes	and	controls	must	be	modified	and	integrated	with	the	new	EMCS.	Spaces	can’t	be	balanced	to	loads	without	these	combined	measures.	5. Loading	Dock:	This	is	a	three-fold	issue:		a. Add	an	Air	Curtain.	b. Replace	Fan	Coil	Unit	and	controls	to	integrate	with	the	EMCS.	c. Museum	interface	must	include	an	Air	Lock.		Loading	Dock	environment	cannot	be	properly	isolated	from	the	Museum	without	these	combined	measures.	6. Replace	fan	drive	transmissions	on	all	system	fans	associated	with	AHU-3	and	AHU-4.	7. Top	floor	ceiling	cavity	exterior	walls	should	be	insulated	and	sealed	against	heat	and	moisture	transmission.	8. Exterior	glass	(windows,	doors,	Atrium	skylights)	should	be	treated	with	ceramic	films.	9. Basement	and	Sub-Basement	floors,	but	not	walls,	should	be	sealed.	10. Chilled	Water	system	should	receive	pump,	specialties,	and	controls	modifications.	Reports	from	WACC	and	ICE,	the	two	vendors	designated	for	the	project,	were	carefully	evaluated	by	MWPAI	staff	to	determine	the	practicality	and	accuracy	of	the	recommendations	contained	within	them.	They	were	determined	to	be	thorough	and	detailed.	The	ICE	report	provides	a	credible	plan	of	action	for	recommended	climate	control	upgrades	and	repairs	and	the	WACC	report	provides	achievable	ranges	for	temperature	and	humidity	fluctuations.		In	one	key	respect	ICE’s	conclusions	differed	from	those	of	WACC.	The	WACC	report	speculates	that	the	main	cause	of	fluctuations	in	the	Museum’s	interior	relative	humidity	was	the	result	of	seasonal	weather	changes.	While	this	is	certainly	a	factor,	ICE	determined	that	the	ground	surrounding	the	below	ground	floors	of	the	structure	was	a	far	greater	source	of	moisture	than	expected.	At	the	time	of	construction	return	air	paths	were	left	unsealed	and	without	the	ductwork	needed	to	protect	against	moisture	entering	the	system	from	the	below	ground	exterior	walls.	The	direct	audience	for	this	project	was	the	MWPAI	Museum	of	Art	staff	but	beyond	that,	all	improvements	to	the	Museum	infrastructure	positively	impact	the	experience	of	Museum	visitors.	Stabilization	of	temperature	and	humidity	levels	within	the	Museum	of	Art	building	will	allow	MWPAI	to	display	a	wide	range	of	art	works	under	appropriate	climate	conditions.	This	project	will	facilitate	new	loans	of	objects	from	other	institutions	and	will	make	it	possible	to	more	readily	display	some	of	the	most	fragile	artworks	in	the	MWPAI	permanent	collection.	

Climate Control System Improvements-Planning Phase

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Climate Control System Improvements-Planning Phase

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