Lisa Bornemann, Lighting / Electrical
Independence Visitor CenterDr. Moeck
Philadelphia, PASeptember 12, 2002
IndependenceVisitorCenter
Philadelphia, PA
Overall Existing Conditions Summary
Executive Summary:
After careful examination of the drawings and specifications for the IndependenceVisitorCenter, I have given a summary of the results below. There are still some areas that I am waiting to here back information about. I have since received the necessary information so it should be the most updated information. The overall existing conditions summary helped me learn a lot about the IndependenceVisitorCenter.
- Primary Project Team:
Owners:
Independence Visitor Center Corporation
National Park Service
Philadelphia Parking Authority
Project Managers / Construction Managers:
Day & Zimmerman Infrastructure
Philadelphia, PA
215-656-2630
Contact: Dan Bosin (Program Manager)
215-913-7113
Barclay White Inc.
Berwyn, PA
267-470-1000
Architect:
Kallmann McKinnell & Wood Architects Inc.
Boston, MA
617-267-0808
Contact: Mark DeShong
MEP Engineers:
Brinjac / Kambic & Associates
Philadelphia, PA
215-592-9611
Contact: Kevin Olsavsky
Lighting Designers:
Fisher Marantz Stone
New York, NY
212-691-3020
Contact: Barry Citrin
Structural Engineers:
Keast & Hood Company
Philadelphia, PA
215-625-0099
Acoustical Engineers:
Acentech Incorporated
Cambridge, MA
617-499-8000
Civil / Site Engineers:
Urban Engineers
Philadelphia, PA
215-922-8080
Landscape Architect:
Lager Raabe
Philadelphia, PA
215-790-0727
Cost Consultants:
Becker / Frondorf
Philadelphia, PA
215-772-1400
- Dates of Construction:
May 2000 – November 2001
- Cost Information:
Design Cost: = $2,800,000
Building Construction Costs = $18,866,878
Total project cost = $21,666,878
- Building Function and Primary Uses:
The visitor center has a variety of spaces with different uses including exhibit areas; a retail space; special event spaces; reception, information and ticketing areas; offices and administration areas; audio and visual experiences including an auditorium; coffee bar and associated support spaces. There is also an outdoor balcony area in the front of the building that is a grand entrance to look up at and a courtyard that has not yet been landscaped.
- Location and Site:
One North Independence Mall West
6th and Market Streets
Philadelphia, PA
The facility was built as part of the redevelopment of the IndependenceNationalHistoricalPark which also includes the Liberty Bell Pavilion on one end of the IndependenceVisitorCenter and The National Constitution Center is being built behind the visitor center to finish the three-block, 15-acre mall.
- Architecture:
The interior has an exposed truss system on the roof and the exterior looks like a typical brick building. Nothing in particular makes it stand out greatly
- Major National Model Codes:
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Code – BOCA 1996
NFPA 101, Life Safety Code 1997
C.A.B.O. Model Energy Code 1992
City of Philadelphia, Zoning / Independence Mall Design
City of Philadelphia, Guidelines by Olin Partners
City of Philadelphia, Building Code, 1997 (L&I)
City of Philadelphia, Department of Health
- Zoning and Historical:
Zoning: The IndependenceVisitorCenter was developed as part of a master plan of redevelopment of Independence Mall which also includes the Liberty Bell Pavilion and NationalConstitutionCenter. Olin Partnership developed the master plan for the mall and therefore overlooked the design. This master plan functioned as a de-facto zoning requirement for the height and footprint of the building. Another requirement was set in by the master planners and National Parks Service that the mechanical equipment had to be kept out of sight from any location at ground level, and there was even concern about what people would see looking down from the FederalBuilding across the street.
Historical: Philadelphia has a unique requirement that all projects in the city of Philadelphia that receive public money from the city must set aside 1% of the construction budget for a public art project. This art project has not yet been done, but there is an entire wall dedicated for this purpose on the South Wall next to the main entrance under the location of the Special Events Terrace.
- Project Delivery System or method:
Design – Bid – Build
With construction manager and project manager
- Building Envelope:
This is a brick building.
- Electrical:
Building Utilization Voltage:
Primary Voltage – 480V Delta
Secondary Voltage – 208/120V 3P, 4 wire, Wye
Emergency Generator:
Natural Gas 480/277V, 3P, Approx. 35kW
Panel Boards:
Emergency = 8:
3 – 480/277V
4 – 208/120V
1 – Emergency 480V Distribution Panel
1 – Standby Emergency 480/277V
1 – Standby Emergency 208/120V
Non-Emergency = 13
2 – 480V Distribution Panels
3 – 480/277V Branch Circuit Panels
8 – 208/120V Branch Circuit Panels
Main Bus Voltage Arrangement Capacity:
MSB – 480/277V, 3P, 4-wire + ground
1200 Amp BUS
1200 Amp Main Breaker
Service from Utility
Located in Basement
HDB - 480/277V, 3P, 4-wire + ground
400 Amp BUS
400 Amp Main Breaker
Service from MSB
Located in Basement
HD2 - 480/277V, 3P, 4-wire + ground
600 Amp BUS
500 Amp Main Breaker
Service from MSB
Located on Mezzanine Level
Transformers:
3 – 1P PECO Transformers
11 – Dry type Transformers:
480/277V – 208/120V 3PH
- Lighting:
The IndependenceVisitorCenter utilizes a variety of lighting systems as well as a variety of lamps. The most common systems seen throughout the building are both incandescent and compact fluorescent downlights and wallwashers, surface mounted track with halogen track heads, metal halide uplighting, and a variety of wall sconces. For the most part, with a few exceptions, the indoor lighting is using a 120V system while the exterior lighting, emergency lighting, and exit signs use 277V. Below I will go into further detail about some specific spaces that I have chosen.
Variety of Lamp Types:
Fluorescent: T5, T8, CFL
CRI = 80’s
CCT = 3500K
Incandescent / Halogen: A19, MR16
H.I.D. = Metal Halide
Fiberoptics
Daylighting:
Skylights
Main Hallway:
The entire hallway is a two story open space with an exposed truss system. Continuous track with halogen track heads is mounted to the bottom of the trusses. There are also metal halide uplights uplighting the sloped roof.
Theaters:
Both theaters are lit using only incandescent lamps which are all on a dimming system. There is a combination of wallwashers, downlights, and accent lights.
Ticket Counter:
Recessed compact fluorescent downlights and wallwashers are used for all ticket counter lighting.
N.P.S. Exhibit:
Track is mounted at the bottom of the beams that cut through the exhibit area. The track heads are tungsten halogen. Incandescent wallwashers are also used.
- Mechanical:
Rooftop Air-conditioning Units
SpaceTotal CFM
1. Exhibition East20,000
2. Exhibition West18,000
3. Retail 4,400
4. Special Events 8,200
5. Theaters 6,500
6. Office 4,100
*Note: All units are TRANE, Split-system, and packaged units because they contain compressors and condensers in the units.
Split-system Air-conditioning Units
SpaceTotal CFM
1. MDF Room 500
2. IDF Room #1 325
3. Telecom Room 117 325
4. Electrical Room 118 325
5. Elevator Mechanical Room 325
*Note: All units are TRANE EMI.
Gas Fire Air-conditioning Unit
SpaceTotal CFM
1. Great Room 9000
Hydronic Unit Heater
Space
- Mechanical Room
- Fire Pump Room
Electric Cabinet Unit Heater
Space
- Vestibule 131
- Stair #5
- Stair #4
- Retail Area
Cabinet Unit Heater
Space
- Main Entrance
- Main Entrance
- Stair #3
Hot Water Heating & Ventilating Unit
Space
- Basement
Variable Air Volume Terminals (VAV’s)
Space
- Theater 2
- Theater 1
- Theater 1
- Projection Booth
- Women’s Toilet Room
- Men’s Toilet Room
- Entry
- Recycling
Boilers
Two boilers, each with 38HP and 1500MBH
Special Mechanical Conditions:
The visitor center was built on top of an existing 3-story parking garage. The garage is a large square with helical ramps at each of the four corners. The mechanical rooms are located at the corners to ventilate the garage. A shaft goes from the parking garage thru the visitor center and opens to the roof. The mechanical rooms on the 5th Street side supply air and the mechanical rooms on the 6th Street side remove air from the parking garage.
As mentioned in the zoning section, a requirement was set in by the master planners and National Parks Service that the mechanical equipment had to be kept out of sight from any location at ground level, and there was even concern about what people would see looking down from the FederalBuilding across the street. It was not possible to hide all mechanical equipment from people looking down on the building, but they did locate all the mechanical equipment in wells and used careful screening to attempt and hide it as best they could.
- Structural:
The visitor center is a two story facility with a hip roof built above an existing 3-story parking garage. The parking garage is a concrete structure. The floor of the visitor center is composite steel beams with metal deck and concrete slabs. The roof is made of steel beams with metal deck. The building uses a combination of moment frames and x-bracing. Down the main hallway, there is an exposed truss system at the top to the two story opening.
- Fire Protection:
The visitor centers sprinkler system is connected to the existing parking garage sprinkler system. This is a wet sprinkler system.
- Transportation:
Three (3) passenger oil hydraulic elevators
One (1) service oil hydraulic elevator
- Telecommunications:
Throughout the visitor center, there are telephone, telephone/data, and data outlets, speakers, and televisions. There are many telephone/data outlets with 2 ports around the ticket counter so computers and phones can both be hooked up. There are also many data outlets with 3 ports in the exhibit area for computers that visitor can use. The offices are hooked up with telephone/data outlets.
All telecommunications cabling and paging speakers for the ground floor shall be fed from IDF #1 and for the mezzanine level fed from IDF #2 unless otherwise noted.
Telecommunications cabling for the exhibits is fed from the Exhibit Rack located in the G.V.C. office located behind the ticket counter.
- Special Systems:
I have not yet found any special systems in the visitor center.