The Towne Building is organized around two central courtyards, with the main circulation along an east-west axis in the South Wing, the primary focus of the project. Jacobs/Wyper, Architects documented the installation of PennNet data and telecommunications cabling throughout all areas of the building, general construction related to upgrading HVAC systems in the South Wing, and finish and lighting upgrades in second and third floor South Wing corridors. Scope of the HVAC replacement project included design of a new ceiling and lighting configuration for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences library on second floor of the Towne Building.

Both HVAC and PennNet projects involved extensive survey and analysis of the existing building to determine how new infrastructure could best be inserted into the historic building structure.

Renovation of historic buildings presents a unique set of challenges during design and construction. These challenges include: identification of locations installation routes for new building service equipment, modifications of the existing building’s structural system, and response to and respect for existing building fabric and appearance. In addition, both projects illustrated are located on lower floors of their buildings, and installation of building services required coordination with other building occupants during all phases of design and construction.

Our experience with renovation work in historic buildings has been extensive at the University of Pennsylvania, where we have completed numerous laboratory projects in historic buildings and where we have designed and documented the pathway for a new data, telecom and video system serving nearly all buildings on campus.