Climate-Controlled Storage and Swing Space

With three stories and 124,000 square feet of space, the new Dulles Collections Center and Hangar Swing Space at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center provides an expansive, climate-controlled environment for the storage of artifacts, exhibits, and display materials while NASM’s flagship building on the National Mall is undergoing a multi-year modernization. The facility will also serve as swing space for the institution’s future renovations, as well as general storage for collections throughout the Smithsonian portfolio.

The building features three large open collection spaces sized at three stories and approximately 28,000 square feet each, as well as two dedicated environmental chambers (one cool storage and one cold storage) for items that require special conservation measures. Facilities also include smaller collection rooms, support spaces, and new stand-alone mechanical heating and cooling plants.

The energy-efficient HVAC system design includes:

• Hydronic air handling units on each floor to serve the general storage areas and maintain a high air-circulation rate. 
• Two dedicated outside air AHUs that supply conditioned, dehumidified air to the inlet section of each general storage AHU. These AHUs have energy recovery wheels.
• New energy-efficient chillers and variable speed chilled water distribution pumps. 
• New energy efficient condensing boilers and variable speed heating hot water distribution pumps.
• DDC energy management and controls.
• Custom AHUs, compressorized air-cooled refrigeration systems, and humidifiers for the cool and cold storage rooms to maintain strict temperature and humidity controls for the preservation of sensitive objects.
• The building is served by a 480 volt – 3 phase electric service and power distribution system, emergency diesel generator, and plumbing systems.