Duke University – Nasher Museum of Art Humidification System Upgrade

Built in 2005, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is a major center for the arts in Durham. In 2015, the museum was removed from plant steam, heating hot water and domestic hot water were upgraded to natural gas-fired equipment, and the humidification system was retrofitted with electric steam boilers. The boilers generate low-pressure steam, which in turn feeds four steam-to-steam humidification steam generators within the mechanical room.

Duke engaged Precis for evaluation of options and design and implementation of a new humidification system to upgrade the aging humidification system. The design solution demolished the existing steam boilers and support infrastructure and replaced the steam-to-steam generators with new electric steam generators. Design for the new base building system provides 700 pounds per hour of humidification with all new controls. The new system ensures relative humidity setpoints remain consistent for the preservation of artwork and artifacts contained in the museum.