Unity Temple

UNITY TEMPLE, 1908 | FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, ARCHITECT | OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

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Posted by Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple Restoration Foundation on Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Project Architect: Harboe Architects, PC

ACE ROLE

  • Feasibility Study: Air Conditioning with Ground-source Heat Pump System
  • Design Development Study: Air Conditioning with Ground-source Heat Pump System
  • Design and Construction Documents:
    • Ground-Source Heat Pump Based HVAC System
    • Electrical Upgrade
    • Plumbing System Renovation
    • Fire Alarm System

Unity Temple, declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971, was designed by a member of the congregation, Frank Lloyd Wright, as a sacred space for the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation (UTUUC). Unity Temple is considered to be one of Wright's most important structures from the early twentieth century and considered by many architects to be the first modern building in the world.

Initially commissioned in 2004 by the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation (UTRF) to prepare a study to determine the feasibility of adding air conditioning to the structure, ACE determined that not only could the building have a modern air conditioning system, but the congregational goal of a ground-source heat pump based system was a logical choice given the limitations of the site and desire to eliminate any exterior equipment. Given the unique concrete construction of the building and general lack of available interstitial spaces for routing new systems, a large part of the study was identifying reasonable methods to implement any system upgrade and still maintain the visual and audible aesthetic of this magnificent assembly and worship space.

Subsequently, ACE became the mechanical engineering consultant of the restoration design team and as part of a multi-year restoration project developed design and construction drawings for the renovation of the MEP and Life Safety systems throughout the building.

PROJECT OUTCOME

  • Restoration is currently underway with completion scheduled for July 2017.
  • Final MEP Project Includes:
    • New zoned ground-source heat pump based HVAC
    • Full electrical service upgrade and electrical distribution system
    • Extensive plumbing system renovation
    • Full new addressable fire alarm system
    • Engineering support for a new audio/visual system and lighting control system