PORTFOLIO
United States Capitol Visitors Center
United States Capitol Visitors Center
The award-winning United States Capitol Visitors Center is an underground extension of the United States Capitol building, and is a multi-use structure operated by the Architect of the Capitol. At 580,000 square feet, the Visitors Center is the largest addition ever to the Capitol, occupying an area three-fourths the size of the Capitol itself. The architectural finishes are rich with granite, limestone and bronze. Twin skylights, two indoor fountains, and a number of statues of historically significant leaders highlight Emancipation Hall, which is the centerpiece of the Center.
In addition to serving as the starting point for public tours of the Capitol building, CVC includes an extensive exhibit gallery containing various state-of-the-art virtual tour modules and a host of national treasures. The building also houses a new substation of the U.S. Capitol Police, three theaters, two television recording studios, a large cafeteria and catering kitchen, swing spaces for the House of Representatives and Senate, Congressional hospitality suites, and several auditoriums.
Kirlin's work included the installation of the plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, sheet metal and controls. The HVAC system has a primary steam heating system, including clean steam generators for humidification, and eight large heat exchangers for hydraulic reheat loops and domestic hot water. The steam and chilled water for the building is provided from the Capitol Power Plant. Kirlin installed approximately 800 feet of high pressure steam/condensate piping in an underground utility tunnel. The HVAC also included a chilled water system that feeds the twenty-five air handing units, numerous fan coils, and computer room air conditioning units for cooling data hubs and recording studio equipment.
A large filtered exhaust system includes six sixty-thousand CFM exhaust fans. Kirlin's work also included piping to forty-two different pieces of kitchen equipment, as well as thirty-six bathrooms and six display fountains which adorn the CVC's landscape. The CVC is controlled by a fully integrated native BAC New DDC control system.
Kirlin's HVAC piping installation won the 2007 WBC Craftsmanship Award for Excellence in the Face of Adversity.
