Hampden-Sydney, VA

Hampden-Sydney College Venable Hall Assessment and Renovation

Scope of Services

Facility Condition Assessment
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineering

Venable Hall, considered the "flagship building" of Hampden-Sydney College by many alumni, serves not only as a residence hall but also serves as a venue for graduation ceremonies. Constructed in two significant phases in 1824 and 1831 by the same masons who built Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Poplar Forest. Over the years parts of the building had fallen into disrepair and it required a comprehensive renovation due to issues with accessibility, inadequate climate control, and outdated MEP systems that were beyond their service life.

Services

2RW participated in a facility condition assessment which led to a comprehensive overhaul of outdated systems. The upgrade includes a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system and a dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) for ventilation and positive building pressurization, ensuring optimal indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and prevention of moisture infiltration all while preserving the historic fabric of the building. To maintain the building’s historical essence, Indoor VRF units are strategically recessed in the ceiling, offering a seamless blend of old and new. Branch controller boxes, crucial for the system’s operation, are inconspicuously located in the attic and mechanical closets in corridors.

The new addition has a 3-story atrium requiring a smoke evacuation system which requires a tremendous amount of makeup air into the building. In order to minimize air intake louvers on the exterior of the building, 2RW devised a scheme to automatically open doors when the evacuation fans run to allow sufficient makeup air into the building.

Electrical infrastructure, including panels, wiring, and conduits, is being comprehensively updated with minimal disturbance to the building’s original plaster walls. LED lighting, chosen for both energy efficiency and historical aesthetics, illuminates the building, with smart controls like occupancy/vacancy sensors in public areas, and manual, dimmable controls in student rooms for personalized comfort.
This renovation goes beyond technical upgrades; by adding a generator, better emergency lighting, a modern fire alarm system, and a backflow preventer for the water system, the project ensures a safer environment and brings the building up to current code.

This renovation goes beyond technical upgrades; by adding a generator, better emergency lighting, a modern fire alarm system, and a backflow preventer for the water system, the project ensures a safer environment and brings the building up to current code.

Results

For the residents and users of the building, these renovations mean living in a space that not only respects its historical legacy but also provides a comfortable, safe, and technologically advanced environment.