A Methodical Investigation of HVAC Integration and Impact on U.S. Historic Stone Buildings

Abstract

The retrofitting of historic buildings, as well as the maintenance of their optimal internal environments for structural preservation and collections, are inherently complex, multifaceted tasks. Moreover, indoor environments do not only affect collections and occupants —the building preservation must also be considered[1]. Despite the large thermal mass of historic stone buildings, most of them require HVAC systems to maintain necessary indoor conditions for artwork preservation and occupant satisfaction. However, these structures were not designed to sustain these “forced” indoor environmental conditions (temperature and relative humidity) that mechanical systems create, and they may suffer greatly for it. What is then the best way to preserve a balance between artwork preservation and occupant satisfaction, while preserving historic buildings? This projects aims is to create a methodology that explores and optimizes the integration of mechanical systems in historic stone buildings, specifically analyzing the oftenoverlooked conditions of climate zones in the southern U.S. As case studies, the research team will analyze the HVAC performance and its impact on four San Antonio Missions during the problematic cooling season. The first step of the research focuses on conducting a holistic analysis, using state-of-the-art technology, and combining the objectives of collections conservation, building preservation and indoor environmental quality. Once this phase is completed, the research team will propose a methodology for designing HVAC systems for building preservation, allowing it to conform to modern use standards. Stone buildings located in ASHRAE climate zones 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, will greatly benefit from the outcomes of this project.

Personnel

Antonio Martinez-Molina, Ph.D.

The Principal Investigator, Antonio Martinez-Molina, Ph.D., will oversee the project, provide context and direction to the project team, manage the Graduate Research Assistant, lead the field investigations, direct optimization recommendations, and be responsible for final report content. Dr. Martinez-Molina is a professor at UTSA and an architect with broad international experience ensuring site-specific cultural values remain unaltered during historic building retrofits focused on energy efficiency, sustainable design and occupant comfort, health and well-being. Dr. Martinez-Molina has over 7 years of experience in similar projects as a Research Fellow at the UNESCO Chair – University and Heritage in Spain, and as a Research Associate at the Low Carbon Built Environment research center in Cardiff University in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Martinez-Molina’s earlier work includes the design, performance optimization, monitoring and data analysis of the SOLCER house (the UK’s first positive-energy building), which put sustainable building research at the forefront of the global arena, and helped to secure multiple grants from national and international governments. Additionally, he worked on the design of 10 low-carbon retrofit projects in historic buildings, aiming to combine appropriate renewable energy supplies, energy storage andenergy demand reduction technologies, to create a more sustainable and healthier built environment that is both scalable and affordable for a public housing project in the UK.

Professor William A. Dupont, FAIA

The Co-Principal Investigator is Professor William A. Dupont, FAIA, who has been the San Antonio Conservation Society Endowed Professor at UTSA since 2007. Professor Dupont is an architect and an expert in heritage conservation issues with relevant experience working on a variety of projects in San Antonio, New Orleans and Cuba where low-tech energy improvements to existing historic resources were paramount design objectives. He established the Center for Cultural Sustainability in 2011 considering the heritage of people as a core element of a sustainable future. He teaches architecture design studios and seminars in historic preservation. Professor Dupont has 11 years of prior project management experience overseeing a wide variety of projects as the Chief Architect of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Michael C. Henry

Michael C. Henry, Principal Engineer/Architect and at Watson & Henry Associates, will provide consulting expertise in peer review of diagnostic methodology, monitoring and data analysis. Relevant to this project his expertise includes: sustainable environmental management and monitoring for museum collections and archives; investigation, monitoring, analysis and assessment of historic buildings; preventive conservation of historic buildings and museum collections; traditional approaches to interior environmental management in historic buildings; energy efficient methods for conservation environments for collections in museums; moisture transport in building envelopes and materials; measurement of building performance and deterioration; and the special challenges of buildings and museums in hot-humid climates.