Denver Museum of Nature and Science Phipps Gallery

City & County of Denver

• Preliminary Project Evaluation
• Energy Efficient LEED Designs
• Existing Systems Evaluation
• Lighting Design
• Power Distribution Systems Design
• Selective Protective Coordination Studies
• Fire Alarm and Low Voltage Systems Design

SSG MEP, Inc. (SSG) provided electrical engineering services, fire alarm system design, partial lighting design, and low voltage systems design assistance for renovations to the Phipps Gallery at the museum. The 14,000 square foot Gallery was completely renovated to include a new exposed grid system with all new lights, power devices and communications and security systems equipment within the gallery. The gallery was provided with a complete vapor barrier system consisting of a humidified void between the roof and the ceiling and between the two exterior walls and the interior walls of the exhibit. This created unique challenges for electrical conduit routing. The grid system, installed below the vapor barrier and HVAC duct work, supported all the exhibit track lighting, work lighting, and special systems equipment. Everything mounted on or above the grid was painted black and therefore not visible to exhibit visitors. Along with the gallery renovation, the third floor of the south atrium was filled in to provide additional temporary exhibit space.

The portion of the lighting system designed by the Hefferan Partnership included the public spaces. The Hefferan design was incorporated into SSG lighting plans. The SSG portion of the lighting design included the gallery UV filtered work lighting, emergency egress lighting, and back of house area lighting. SSG provided all circuiting and controls design for the project.

The two electrical closets serving the space were added to provide exhibitor power connections and audio/visual control points. Additional changes were necessary to the electrical distribution to accommodate the renovations and smoke control system changes. The security equipment room was reduced in size to allow more room for electrical distribution equipment in the adjacent electrical room. In addition, a new IDF room was created to include the security equipment, network equipment, and audio/visual head end equipment for the gallery. SSG provided the fire alarm system design, including an early detection VESDA system for the gallery and integration with the existing Simplex/Grinnell fire alarm system. With input from the museum, SSG designed and coordinated the low voltage system design for security cameras, audio/visual system devices, Ethernet ports, and IDF room layout. This project achieved LEED Gold.