The Phillips Collection

Known as “America’s First Museum of Modern Art,” the Phillips Collection, located in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington, D.C., features paintings by many important impressionists and contemporary artists, including Renoir, Bonnard, Cezanne, Monet, Degas, Rothko, O’Keeffe, and Klee. In advance of the museum’s centennial, the Phillips Collection sought to lay the groundwork to improve the visitor experience and ensure the preservation of its collection for future generations.

The renovation primarily focused on the historic, four-story Georgian Revival home, originally built in 1897, one of three connected buildings in which galleries are housed. The renovation replaced dated building systems with energy-efficient new systems that improve temperature and humidity control, create zone-based flexibility and minimize long-term maintenance.

The modernization included extensive upgrades to improve thermal performance in the museum’s original building. Today, the house gallery spaces feature a fully digitized temperature and humidity control system, designed to protect collections while ensuring visitor comfort.

Engineering highlights include a 100-percent outside air handling system with an exhaust air energy recovery wheel serving multiple variable-volume air handling units that provide conditioned air to new direct digital-controlled, zone-level, air terminal units. A new, architecturally screened, high-efficiency chiller fitted with sound-attenuating components was also added, as well as a pair of high-efficiency condensing hot water boilers with heating water pumps. A new building automation system was provided, as well as upgrades to the existing fire suppression, fire alarm, electrical power, lighting, and plumbing systems.