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| Warner Theater,
Washington, DC Originally built in 1924 Washington, DC, the original Warner Building was a visionary concept, linking the vitality of a 2000-seat grand movie theater with the economic stability provided by four floors of leased office above the theater. However, over the ensuing decades the theater fell into extreme disrepair, until it finally was renovated in the early 1990’s. As lead designer and project manager for the mechanical/electrical engineering design firm on the job, Alan Chalifoux was responsible for ‘shoehorning’ modern air conditioning, plumbing, smoke control, fire protection, and electrical systems into the existing theater, while maintaining the historic integrity of the building. All this work was done while paying strict attention to minimizing the noise of the new systems, so that theatrical productions would not be disturbed. The mechanical systems incorporate an energy-efficient central chiller plant with primary/secondary pumping, waterside economizer, and a direct digital control (DDC) system. This project was generally recognized as a huge success, and the Warner Theater has become a major attraction in downtown Washington, DC, and the "flag ship" for its developer, the Kaempfer Company. Orpheum Children’s Science Museum A beautiful historic landmark in downtown Champaign, Illinois, the Orpheum Theater served as a movie theater for decades before falling into disrepair. Purchased by an insightful developer of historic buildings in the 1990’s, the theater is undergoing major renovations. Recognizing that the building is not economically viable as an historic movie theater in the new millennium, the developer is changing the building space use while maintaining the interior and exterior historic integrity of the building. Eta Engineers’ involvement came in the second renovation phase (of three anticipated) which renovated the lobby/main foyer and entrances to accommodate a children’s science museum. Eta’s design retrofitted central cooling in these areas where there formerly had been none, provided exhibit and general area lighting, and provided new toilet rooms to accommodate the anticipated crowds. Eta’s involvement and support continued through the construction phase, addressing and solving the myriad of field issues that historic renovation projects inevitably present. |
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