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U. S. Botanic
Garden Conservatory |
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Location: |
Washington, DC. |
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Program: |
Renovation of indoor garden conservatory and
museum spaces. |
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Budget: |
$6,500,000.00. |
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Schedule: |
Design completed 1995. Construction
completed 2002. |
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Acoustical Design Collaborative, Ltd
provided room acoustics, HVAC noise control,
and sound isolation design for the
renovation of an historic indoor garden
conservatory near the U.S. Capitol Building.
The facility includes indoor gardens, plant
conservation rooms, two large galleries,
offices, and support spaces. The building’s
extensive glazing for natural light limited
areas where acoustically absorptive
materials could be placed. Of concern for
museum curators was selecting acoustical
materials that would resist humidity and not
sustain organic contaminants that could harm
exotic plant specimens. The selected
acoustical material was aerated Portland
acoustical cement suitable for pressure
steam cleaning placed on the upper walls and
ceiling perimeter. Fresh air requirements
needed to maintain clean air necessitated
HVAC noise control not using fiberglass.
Interior sound isolation addressed the open
museum galleries and surrounding spaces.
Acoustic glazing reduced vehicular traffic
and aircraft flyover noise. The U.S. Botanic
Gardens provides both a tourist destination
and a calm respite for nearby U.S. Capitol
workers. “Audrey II” from Little Shop of
Horrors can’t wait to move in! |
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