2RW has been providing a range of infrastructure planning and MEP engineering services for this project, including:

• Peer review of proposed underground HVAC vault designs
• Thorough analysis of environmental conditions within the house and the artifacts contained within it to develop appropriate envelope improvements, HVAC systems, and building controls
• A comprehensive building envelope plug-and-seal strategy to reduce heating and cooling load and corresponding HVAC system requirements
• MEP design for updates to the main house, North Dependency, administrative offices, public restrooms, and support buildings
• Design of custom, zoned temperature and humidity controls to preserve the house’s collections based on their type, historic value, and location
• Design of a geothermal-electric plant with a 33-well ground-source heat pump (GSHP) system and dedicated heat recovery chillers (DHRCs)
• Upgrades and replacements to site and building electrical, underground utility services, and generator
• Coordination of utility work, geothermal well installation, and HVAC construction
• Phased construction and parallel operation of existing and new systems during startup to allow for system optimization and a seamless transition

The updated systems and new geothermal-electric plant:

• Replaced outdated and inefficient heating, cooling, dehumidification, and ventilation systems with modern, energy-efficient systems appropriate to the building and its collections
• Eliminated fossil fuel usage
• Cut energy use and utility bills in half
• Eliminated loud, inefficient, and unsightly oil-fired boilers, air-cooled chillers, and DX condensing units to preserve the quiet, contemplative environment that was the centerpiece of Jefferson’s “experiment”
• Preserved the view shed by minimizing/hiding utilities and generators
• Incorporated sustainable practices designed to meet the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations