CJL Engineering Cools Down Carnegie Music Hall

Things got a lot cooler in the Carnegie Music Hall last month, after receiving one of the most significate renovations in its history.

Built in 1895, Carnegie Music Hall and adjacent historic Foyer is flanked by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Art in the heart of the Oakland section of #Pittsburgh. CJL Engineering was recently hired by the Museum to conduct a Heating/Cooling Plant Master Plan to develop an approach for the upgrade of the 3,000-ton Chilled Water System. As an added scope, the Museum requested that CJL investigate and then design the incorporation of air-conditioning (AC) into the 120-year-old Carnegie Music Hall. The original heating and ventilating system including fans and ductwork all dated back to the original construction.

Given its original layout and the fact that the Museum generated its own power and heating, at that time there was little regard for the cost of heating. As such, both the Music Hall and Foyer were set up as a 100 percent outside air systems. This arrangement had been the stumbling block in numerous previous attempts at adding AC capability to the Music Hall. CJL was brought in to engineer a creative solution in support of a comprehensive interior upgrades. This almost year long restoration of the beautiful hall both increases accessibility and enhances the experience of attendees. This revamp ensures future generations can enjoy all the space has to offer year-round and into the future!

#carnegiemusichall #carnegiemuseumofnaturalhistory #pittsburghPA #cjlengineering

Jim Vizzini, Brian Rouser, Stephen Rouser, EIT, Paul Smotzer, Brian Wetherby