Dimensions - Annual Review 2017 - 16

FEATURE

Duke University
Chapel Reinvigorated
Duke University Chapel has a rich history dating back

Solutions in Spite of Unique Constraints

nearly a century. It was designed by architect Julian

A customized air handling solution was speciﬁed for the

Abele in the early 1900s and constructed in the 1930s.

existing mechanical room's conﬁned space. Working

After two years of construction, the chapel opened

under an aggressive design and construction schedule,

its doors to students and community members for

the team also installed two, 25,000-cubic-feet per

commencement ceremonies, church services, concerts,

minute AHUs brought into the facility in pieces through

and weddings. Since its original construction, the chapel

a four-foot-wide by six-and-a-half-foot-tall door.

has not undergone any major renovations beyond the
addition of a Flentrop Organ in 1976. That changed

An Award-Winning Project

nearly three years ago when the university closed the

The modernizations have resulted in a climate controlled

facility in order to refurbish the iconic building by

facility that will help maintain energy efficiency for years

reﬁnishing ﬂoors and stained glass windows, ﬁne-

to come and meet the needs of an expanded student and

tuning the pipe organs, and resealing the marble ﬂoors.

general population. In May of 2016, the $19.2-million

Additional restorations included Dewberry's design

project was complete and Duke University Chapel

of major upgrades to the utilities and mechanical,

reopened its doors to students and community members

electrical, and plumbing systems.

for church services, commencement ceremonies, and

Engineering a System for Comfort

concerts. Following completion of the building's system
upgrades, the project was awarded the 2016 Pinnacle

Dewberry engineered the heating, ventilation, and air

Award for Best Building Project, $5 Million and Over by

conditioning system; building automation controls; and

Carolinas Associated General Contractors.

electrical distribution within the framework of the
overall restoration project. The ﬁrm developed an
improvement plan that included the documentation
of the original steam piping, new steam service and
pressure reducing station, new chilled water service
and metering, air handling unit (AHU) replacement,
electrical utility service replacement, panelboard and
electrical distribution upgrades, audio/visual and
theatrical lighting upgrades, small area renovations,
and an arc ﬂash study. Dewberry also provided
commissioning services as well as upgrades to the
building automation system controls.

Dewberry designed new custom-enclosed air
handling units, which increased the cooling capacity,
re-established outside air, and provided redundancy.

16 Dimensions

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http://www.dewberry.com/news/blog/post/blog/2018/02/08/we-re-going-to-the-chapel-and-we-re-going-to-.upgrade-the-utility-and-mep-systems
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dimensions - Annual Review 2017
