Heating and Cooling Robie House

Author(s): Justin Estoque

Source: APT Bulletin, Vol. 19, No. 2 (1987), pp. 38-51
Published by: Association for Preservation Technology International (APT)
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1494160
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 HEATING
AND
COOLING
ROBIE HOUSE
Frank Lloyd Wright (DeLonge Studio, Madison WI,
courtesy of State Historical Society of Wisconsin)

Justin Estoque
Adapting modern heating and cooling ical systems to the needs of the current To better understand how the house
systems to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie occupants - all without destroying the was originally supposed to function, we
House required a respect for Wright's integrity of the structure. compared Robie House thermal comfort
original heating and cooling systems. In The owner of the building, the Uni- to historical ventilation standards and
designing the Robie House, Wright con- versity of Chicago, and the occupant, modern comfort standards. We found
sciously sought to enhance human com- the Office of University Alumni Affairs, that the Robie House was superior to
fort. In that sense, the architecture itself requested recommendationsfor adapting comparable Chicago houses for summer
was an expression of the architect's con- the Robie House ventilation and cooling comfort. When the Robie House was
cern for the comfort of the occupants. systems to accommodate present-day of- built, ventilation was not considered a
Eighty years ago, when the house fice functions without compromising the comfort issue as much as it was a win-
was designed, most architects and en- building's historic integrity. The Univer- tertime health issue. Wright, however,
gineers had only a rudimentary under- sity recognized that the existing window had recognized the thermal and psycho-
standing of natural ventilation as a cool- air conditioners detracted from the logical advantages that natural ventila-
ing mechanism.AlthoughWright'sdesign building's appearance. Natural ventila- tion could provide, and he incorporated
surpassed contemporary standards, the tion was preferred, as long as it could many design features to improve venti-
house does not meet the needs of the meet the needs of a modern office. This lation: increased window area; open,
current occupants of the building: the option seemed especially attractive,given flowing spaces permitting better air
house is no longer a residence, and the the natural-coolingdesign features men- movement; and properly sized over-
availability of air conditioning has raised tioned by Frank Lloyd Wright scholars hangs. Ceiling plenum ventilation and
modern comfort standards. and confirmed by our study. But if cen- building orientation also helped in this
It was our task to understand how tral cooling was necessary for the hottest regard.
the building worked when it was origi- summer months, we did not know what Even with these ameneties, the Robie
nally designed, to examine its perfor- modificationswould be requiredfor fans, House fell short of modern comfort stan-
mance today, and to adapt the mechan- ductwork, and equipment. dards. Computer simulationsshow some

Associationfor PreservationTechnology 38
 4-' . .

The southfacade of Robie house is shaded by overhangingeaves in summer.Cooling

breezesare drawn throughwindows. The house was designedfor the occupants'com-
fort. (RichardNickel, courtesyof RichardNickel Committee)

room temperatures higher than 78? F

for more than 800 occupied hours per
To understand how natural ventila-
Sensitivityto the building
tion, modern cooling, and heating could
year and higher than 90? F for more be adapted to the site, we began with a fabric and a carefulpre-de-
than 600 occupied hours per year. This thorough analysis of the original system. sign study made it possible
was due in part to conferences and We then developed a comprehensive to design a cooling system
dinners which would generate heat. monitoring program to analyze present
Based on these results, natural ven- use. Based on this information,we found compatiblewith Frank
tilation,althoughconsistentwith Wright's that it was possible to adapt the heating Lloyd Wright'sRobie
design philosophy, was insufficient to system to provide cooling as well. The House.
meet the comfort requirements of its adaptation required very slight changes
currentoccupants.We recommendedthat in the building fabric.
both natural ventilation and refrigerated
cooling be used. Natural ventilation
would be achieved by repairing the his-
toric windows and doors, many of which
are fragile and permanently shut to fore- Justin Estoque is with Burt Hill Kosar
stall further deterioration. Though esti- Rittelmann Associates, WashingtonDC.
mated to cost $35,000, the repair of the The author wishes to acknowledge Syed
windows would address both historic Faruq Ahmed, Margaret Maliszewski,
preservationand comfort needs for much and David Linamen as contributing au-
of the year. Refrigerated cooling could thors. Funding was provided by the U.S.
then be installed to handle peak cooling Department of Energy and the National
loads and provide more stable climate Endowment for the Arts through IDEA,
control. Inc.

39 APTBulletin Vol.XIXNo. 2 1987

Robie House History
An Architectural Landmark. Built in The most famous roomsare the living room, bath, and dressing room, with a
1909, the Robie House is the culmination and dining rooms located on the second small sunning balcony to the west. The
of those unique architecturalqualities in level. Both roomshave prow-shapedends two children's bedrooms with adjoining
Wright'sdesign which had been growing and are separated by a large, brick fire- bath are also located on this floor.There
and maturingsince the 1890's:the build- place, pierced in the center to enhance is no attic or basement.
ing form based on interlocking masses the long, dramatic perspective from one
end of the house to the other. Patterned Present Use
of rectangular blocks; low, horizontal
rooflines with long, cantilevered over- oak screens in the ceiling filter light from The house has been adapted today to
hangs; the low, broad chimney and cen- recessed electric fixtures supplemented serve as office space. The officesare open
tral outdoors seen through bands of win- with light globes held aloft by wooden during regular business hours; but, re-
dows. The house is a bold structure of spacers. A sweeping rhythm of French cognizing the building's place in Amer-
brick masonryand concrete whose strong doors on the south and half-windows on ican architecture, the Office allows tours
planes, hovering roofs, and projecting in the foyer, living room, dining room,
balconies seem to float, with nothing in and adjacent outdoor areas. Eight to ten
To help preserve the house thousand people per year tour the house,
between to hold them apart but one
strong vertical element - the chimney
in spite of heavy use and and receptions or dinners are held up
mass. Its form has been described as a limited funding, planning to 20 times a month. Use of the house
great ship complete with prow, funnel, will probably intensify as more groups
and establishing work learn about its availability.
and decks, whose crisp brickwork and
geometric outlines have been softened priorities was essential. To help preserve the house in spite
with "hanging gardens" emerging from of its heavy use and limited renovation
earth pockets in terrace walls. The house the north admit light and air, while the funding, the University Office of Phys-
was designated the first United States stained glass set in zinc channels provides ical Planning and Construction estab-
Registered National Historic Landmark enough privacy to dispense with heavy, lished priorities for restoration funding
in the City of Chicago. dark drapes. Radiatorsand fan-coil units in upcoming years. Funds raised in the
The Robie House floor plan is sig- are recessed beneath wooden grilles or immediate future will be directed toward
nificantly different from other residences under the floor so that warm air rises repair of windows, doors and metal roof
of its time. Rather than opening directly along the cold windows and walls. components. Air conditioning, heating
onto the street, the entry is tucked away In a setback to the north, a guest and roof insulationhave been designated
on the ground level behind the dominant bedroom and bath open off a short hall a third priority by the University's con-
south facade of the building. On this adjoining the kitchen. To the east of the sulting architect, John Vinci. However,
level, beside the north foyer,are a billiard kitchen over the three-car garage are planning for the eventual overhaul of
room to the west, a children's playroom the servants'quarters. In this part of the these systems and assuring that their
with a prow-shaped end to the east, and house, as on the third floor, the ceilings renewal does not damage the integrity
an attached three-car garage, one of the are vaulted, following the lines of the of the house were the reasons for our
first ever provided for a Chicago resi- roof above. involvement in the project at an early
dence. The top floor has the master bed- stage.
Low, horizontal roof lines with cantilevered overhangs are seen on this elevation of the south facade. Prow-shaped living room is on
the second level to the left, and attached garage and servants' quarters are to the right. (Courtesy of Library of Congress, Historic
American Building Survey)

Ir

T -I j.1,- :mii 7~
HL72 sT~Am z -, 2 ai.-a

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-=-_L

Associationfor PreservationTechnology 40
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w w * .i ; _
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* wXXa i w +

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~~~* s : lb A : ?,~
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Ju 4

Comfort Control in 1900

In 1900, the ventilation of buildings was I
1i
considered primarily a health issue.
i
Mostcivilizedmen and women are un-
willingto put on underclothingthat has
justbeen takenoff by anotherperson,or
to put into their mouthsarticlesof food
or drinkthathave recentlybeen in other
people'smouths,but they take, without
hesitation,into their lungs air that has
just come from other people's mouths
and lungs, or from close contact with
theirsoiled clothingor bodies.'

Engineering guidelines were written

by medical doctors or surgeons known
as sanitary engineers. Many of them Just north of the fireplace,the cameralookswest towardthe living room. Stainedglass
deplored the ignorance of mechanical windowsprovidedprivacy,light, and ventilation.(Officeof PublicRelations,University
engineers, pushing vigorously for sani- of Chicago)
tation-based ventilation standards to be
ined in the 1800's to determine increases design of residences; heating was con-
included in engineering textbooks. The
in "carbonic acid gas" (carbon dioxide) sidered a more complex and important
firstASHRAEguides were not published
until about 1920. resultingfrom variousnumbersof people problem. For ventilating single-family
confined within an enclosed space. In dwellings, fireplaces were considered to
Adequate ventilation as a health con- the second half of the nineteenth century, induce ample ventilation in the winter,
cern was considered more difficult to
sick individuals were thought to exhale and if fireplaces were not available, the
achieve in the winter than in the sum-
4 to 12 times as much carbonic acid and equivalent area of exhaust flue (called
mer, resulting from the need to keep contaminated "watery vapor"and there-
windows and doors closed during the aspiratingchimneys) or attic exhaustfans
fore required higher rates of ventilation.4 would suffice. In these cases, air was
heating season: Even after 1900, the reasonsfor adequate assumed to expand and rise as it was
ventilation were still poorly understood, heated, thereby flowing naturally out of
While it may be requiredin some cases
as evidenced by Konrad Meier, a New the flue or expelled by the fan and
chiefly,or exclusively,to removewatery York heating consultant, in his Reflec-
vapor,as in the dryingroomsof a factory, replaced by fresh air at the furnace or
or to keep an uninhabitedroom free tions on Heating and Ventilating En- living space. A primary design require-
from dampness,or to remove offensive gineering (1904)5: ment was to prevent drafts of cold air
or dangerousgases or foul odorsgener- entering directly into the living spaces.
ated by either naturalor manufacturing . .excessive amountof vapourof water, In the summer, opening the windows
processes,it is most usuallyemployedto sickly odours from respiratoryorgans, and doors was considered sufficient. No
dilute and remove the productsof ex- uncleanteeth,perspiration,untidycloth- turn-of-the-century references related
halationandrespirationof livinganimals, ing,. . stuffyair fromdustycarpetsand window area to health or comfort con-
especiallyof man, and the productsof draperies,and many other factorsthat ditions.
combustiondue to heating and illumi- may combine,will in most cases cause Besides carbonic acid, dampness was
nating apparatus,and to prevent the greaterdiscomfortandgreaterill-health.6 also considered an environmental con-
temperatureof a roomfromrisingabove dition to avoid. Frank Lloyd Wright
the degree which is requisiteto secure
comfortand health.2 Thus, ventilation standards, if followed, himself raisedthe conventionalbasement
were based on reasonableguesses at best functions to the ground level to avoid
The common method for determin- and Victorian imagination at worst. the dark damp conditions found there.
ing acceptable rates of ventilation was Although ventilation standards may One of the design tenets he identified
based on diluting the concentration of have been used in the design of large with his Prairie School philosophy was
these noxious gases to an acceptable buildings and assembly halls, this level to ". . .get the unwholesome basement
standard.3Exhalation rates were exam- of rigor rarely, if ever, was used in the up out of the ground."7

41 APTBulletin Vol.XIXNo. 2 1987

 The dampness and other foul gases square inches per occupant with a fan is room, no provision need be made. . . for
associated with basements discouraged sufficient. summer ventilation except when there is
2. Fresh air registers must not be placed an object to keep them closed to exclude
the use of basements as a source of
below foul air registers (to avoid short noise and dirt."
ventilation air.
circuiting).
3. Flues small enough to embed in or- The last quarter of the 19th century
Sometimesit is taken directlyfrom the
dinary interior partitions are insufficient marked a period of rebuilding for Chi-
cellar itself, in which case it is almost in size, except for residential use.
sure to be contaminatedwith gases es- 4. Do not place fresh air registers flush cago. The catastrophic Chicago Fire of
capingfromthe furnacedoor,while the 1871 led public officials to make fireproof
with the floor level (to avoid collecting
cellaritselfcontainsdecayingvegetables, dirt and dust). construction a major component of the
slop buckets,and perhapsan emptybell 5. In economical dwellings, centralize the building code. Building materials were
trap,givingfreecommunication withthe soon upgraded to guard against another
heating apparatus,keeping fresh air flues
sewer.. .The fresh-airsupplyshouldnot within inner walls. Transfer grilles to city-wide fire. Brick and stone were sub-
be broughtin throughan underground
upper floorscan be placed under or near stituted for wood in both new and ex-
duct withouttakingspecial precautions windows. isting buildings. Frederick Robie himself
to haveit air-tight,and it shouldnot pass 6. In residences, when fresh air registers insisted on the latest in fireproof con-
acrossor near a drainor sewer.8 are placed near the ceiling, and foul air struction. One side effect of this change
registersnear the floor,heat air to a higher in building materials was that the heavier
Architects usually left the job of pro- temperature than required (due to the materials made for cooler interior envi-
viding ventilation air to the furnace in- stratification).If opposite, enlarge grilles
ronments; but, they also created colder
staller who often chose a source based sufficiently to prevent disagreeable cur-
rents. walls and floors in the winter.
on the least cost and inconvenience. Architectural styles that were popu-
There was no return to the furnace; 7. In dwellings with rooms having win-
dows on one wall only, place fresh warm lar at the time, such as Romanesque
supply was 100% outside air. In larger air openings on an inner wall and foul Revival and Queen Anne, were based
buildings which required the sizing of air registers on the same wall at a lower on both wood and masonry construction.
flues and registers, more attention was level. This will induce air flow from the Glass panes were becoming larger, and
paid to the source and rates of ventila- warm air opening, across the ceiling, the popular double-hung windows started
tion. Recommended rates ranged from down in front of the window, and back
incorporating single panes of heavy glass
30 cfm/person (office and dining) to 60 along the floor to the foul air register.'? instead of the many small panes used in
cfm/person (hospitals, assembly halls, earlier window designs. Casement win-
and barracks)- much higher than the These recommendations allude to the dows, which admit more air, were not
5 to 20 cfm/person usually used during importance of circulating heated air and popular on Prairie Avenue and in other
the present day.9 preventing stratification, and show how fashionable neighborhoods of Chicago,
With no air conditioners, cooling a building or room "works." The Chicago although these and other elements of the
standardsdid not exist. Although winter building code made more specific rec- Robie House had historic precedent (e.g.,
indoor temperatures of 68? F or 70? F ommendations for the placement of the grouped casement windows of the
were considered comfortable, occupants openings, suggesting that winter and Tudor Style and the wide, overhanging
lived with whatever level summer tem- summertime operation do not differ when eaves and hipped roof of the Italian
peratures happened to reach. fresh air is admitted at the lower level: Renaissance).
The level of sophistication, even Our review of houses built during
among professionals,was not high. The ...the inlets may be in the floor,in risers the late 1800's reveals that traditional
recommendations made by Billings are of platforms, in sides of walls near the
Chicago residences used basements for
typical design guidelines for residential floor, in stationary desks, and in front of habitable purposes, such as kitchens and
installations. stationary benches. . . The outlets may their supporting services, presumably be-
be in the cornice or ceiling or side of
cause these were heat-generating func-
1. Positionandsizethe registersto achieve walls near the ceiling. This method re-
tions. Attics with dormers served as serv-
sufficientair flowwithoutcausingdrafts. quires no change with seasons- the fresh
ants' quarters, presumably because these
Ninety feet per minuteshouldbe maxi- air in summer entering the same way
mum.Perforated floorsin assemblyrooms that it does in winter. .. were the hottest and least convenient
shouldbe at least 100 squareinchesper Where windows are available, and so rooms of the house. Ground levels con-
occupant;at the ceiling, however, 30 placed that currents pass through the tained several large rooms - sitting

Associationfor PreservationTechnology 42
rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and
parlors- with large foyers leading from
a central entry which in turn led to a
central stair.
This organization of spaces around a
centralized circulation plan and their
vertical arrangement was especially
suited for the heating systems of the
times; basement furnaces from which
hot air rose through floorgrilles, or steam
systems where condensate returned to
the boiler by gravity. On the other hand,
naturalventilation was relatively difficult
since most rooms only had windows on Contrastsbetweenthe central-floor-plan house shown in the backgroundand Wright's
horizontalRobiehouse show what a profoundeffect modernradiant heating had on
one wall, although some air movement architecturaldesign. (State HistoricalSocietyof Wisconsin)
was induced from floor to floor by open-
The result of removing the top story mer'sArchitectureof the Well-Tempered
ing dormer windows in the attic and (and the was a exten- Environment'5 for being one of the few
basement) greater
admitting fresh air at the ground level. sion of living spaces over the lot which to utilize the freedom in architectural
Wright's Changes permitted more exterior window area. It form made possible by new heating tech-
The preceding review describes the con-
also required more open, free-flowing nologies. But as form is inextricably in-
ventional residential building standards living spaces if interior rooms were to tegrated with heating, ventilation, and
from which Wright departed. In some
have light, air, and view. Such design light in the characteristically organic
features complement Wright's Prairie Prairie School philosophy, the Robie
cases, the departure was made inten- Architecture with its low, horizontal House provides environmentalamenities
tionally to improve occupant summer to the And not found in its more traditional neigh-
buildings opening prairie.
comfort; in others, the benefits were the architecture itself was made possible bors. These are summarized as follows:
incidental. Other features of the house
by the use of modern heating systems Extent of operable doors and windows.
may have been common practice. which could better distribute heat than On the second floor, the glazed area is
One intentional improvement was
could their predecessors,as Wright him- so extensive that Frank Lloyd Wright
the elimination of hot, stuffy attics; in
self explains: referred to the walls as "light screens."
fact, Wright described them as quarters
This was a dramatic departure from
"for 'help' to swelter in" and dormers Anothermodernopportunityis afforded
as places ". . .to let 'help' poke heads homes of the day which he described as
by oureffectivesystemof hot-waterheat- "overdressed wood home walls [which]
out of the attic for air."'2 Instead, he ing. By thismeansthe formsof buildings
substituted the chimney to collect and had, cut in them...big holes for the big
maybe morecompletelyarticulated, with
cat and little holes for the little cat to
expel hot air: lightand air on severalsides.By keeping
the ceilingslow the wallsmay be opened get in and out or for ulterior purposes
.. .The gently-slopingroofs,gratefulto of light and air."
the Prairie,do not leave largeair-spaces with a seriesof windowsto the outerair,
the flowersand trees,the prospects,and In the living and dining rooms, close
abovethe rooms,andso the chimneyhas
one may live as comfortablyas formerly, to 75% of the exterior wall could be
grown in dimensionsand importance, lessshutin. .. it is alsopossibleto spread
and in hot weatherventilatesat the high opened to the outside compared with
the buildings,whichonce in our climate the more typical 20%. Furthermore,
partof the circulatingair-spacebeneath of extremeswerea compactbox cut into
the roofs,the freshair enteringbeneath Wright insisted on using the outswinging
the eaves throughopeningseasilyclosed compartments, into a more organic casement windows versus ubiquitous
in winter.'3 expression,makinga housein a garden "guillotine"(i.e., double-hung)windows.
or the country the delightfulthing in
Not only did they allow 100% of the
relationto either or both, that imagina-
Wright also eliminated the basement due tion would have it.'4
window area to be opened, but they
to its perceived unwholesome dampness have been shown (in modern-day ex-
and lack of windows, but in doing so, Based on this statement, Reyner Ban- periments) to induce or divert greater
sacrificed its coolness. ham ascribes Wright credit in the for- air circulation near the window.

43 APTBulletin Vol.XIXNo. 2 1987

 Other Features
The following features also contribute to ing ventilation system. These were as
the house's summer comfort conditions; necessary at the turn of the century as
but, they cannot be attributed to the they are today, given the convoluted and
uniqueness of Wright's ventilating de- constricted air-flow passagesbeneath the
sign because he did not identify occupant low roof. There is no evidence that this
comfort as his primary objective or be- system was intended to significantly
cause the features appear in other homes ventilate the living space; both the ar-
in the area during the same time. chitect and this study bear out its neg-
Ceiling plenum ventilation. Wright's ligible effect when compared with the
aversionto high attic spaces and dormers use of the windows and doors.
' .-~~;a.,'I
. s.3 ...
e. .:':". * .'::. ..::Si:.~?. .::''. . ....
for ventilation required him to substitute East-west building orientation. As dic-
Wright'sintegrationof lighting, ventila- some other means for ventilating the tated by conventional solar design, the
tion, and ceiling finish trim is shown
above. (VirginiaWeissmanPhoto, Office space below the roof. His use of interior main axis of the Robie House is east-
of PublicRelations,Universityof Chi- ceiling grilles and exterior eave vents west, which allows maximum solar ex-
cago.) allows air to enter, exiting via the ven- posure in winter while reducing east and
Open floor plan allowing free movement tilator bricks in the chimney. (Joseph west exposure to low sun angles during
of air. As discussed previously, typical Conners"7disputes Banham's claim that summermorningsand afternoons.Wright
residential design of the time in Oak the chimney was expressly designed to actually designed a solar house in 1936
Park produced boxy, compact homes accommodatea ventilation function, and for Herbert and Katherine Jacobs in
where cubicle-like living spaces were only did so incidentally, if at all.) which he demonstrated extreme sensi-
The practice of ventilating ceiling tivity to solar angles, thermal mass, earth
organized around stairs and corridors.
The Robie House's free-flowing interior plenums and the use of ceiling grilles as berming, and prevailing breezes. Never-
circulationand punctured fireplace max- ventilating devices was not unique, theless, it would have been difficult to
imizes the circulation of fresh air, while though Wright's integration of lighting, place a building in any other position
its spread-out, extended floor plan per- ventilation, and ceiling finish trim in one on the Robie House site given the site's
mits extensive exterior window area. element is a sensitive design solution to shape, orientation, views, and available
the mundane problem of air circulation. sunlight to the south.
Properly sized overhangs. Wright fre-
quently mentions the horizontal line as Originally,exhaust fans assisted the ceil-
the line of domesticity, evocative of the
prairie. The horizontal roof line with its Robie house ventilationis illustrated.The fan, though
not originalto Wright'sdesign, assists ceiling ventila-
long east and west overhangs and rela- tion.
tively shortsouth overhang illustratesthis
ideal, but it is also correct for proper
shading. The east and west building faces
are protected from low morning and
afternoon sun angles, and on the south,
the shorteroverhang is sufficientto shade
the glass from the high noon sun. Reyner
Banham'6 mentions that the south ov-
erhang is the perfect length to shade the
glass doors during the summer solstice.
The shadow line angle from the actual
sun position is 72? versus the angle from
the actual overhang of 66? (calculated
from the blueprints), but this is a minor
difference in light of construction devia-
tions and is more appropriate anyway
for the heating and cooling loads in
Chicago.

Associationfor PreservationTechnology 44
Ventilation-System Operation
Based on ventilation codes, guidelines in
existence at the turn of the century,
Frank Lloyd Wright's writings, and ob-
servations made at the house by the
authors of this study, the original oper-
ation of the ventilation system can be
described as follows:
Summer
." " _
* The primary source of air is the open '"" ^^_ m\ ""i n.

windows and doors. ... _ i ~? --1 _.

* The second floor ceiling plenum is

also ventilated. The source of attic air Oxidationof zinc cames, glass separatingfrom the cames, and accumulatingdirt meant
is the exterior grilles under the east windows had to be repairedbeforethey could be made operable.
and west overhangs, the light screens,
as well as mechanical exhaust fans of fresh air, and as such, must be oper- Mr. John Vinci, AIA, the consulting
within each end of the living and able. Currently, many of the French architect to the University for Robie
dining rooms. The hot air then rises doors and north windows on the second House renovations, had decided that re-
through the chimney. floor are nailed shut to prevent their use pairing the doors and windows, and
Winter and forestall further deterioration. This constructing faithful reproductions if
* The doors and windows are closed. strategy, however, is only a second-rate necessary,would be acceptable, primar-
The exterior grilles at the east and solution. Nailing woodwork causes ad- ily because the oak members were not
west eaves are closed. ditional damage by marringfinished sur- particularlyunusualin their construction
* Fresh air enters through the grilles faces and by creating opportunities for or design. Neither was the hardware
behind perimeter fan-coil units or moisture penetration. Furthermore, the special for the time. In 1983, Mr. Vinci
radiators. glass can still be easily broken and entry recommended that this work receive top
* The air is heated, rises, and is expelled gained. priority and estimated costs of $500 per
in one of three ways: 1) by exhaust Making the doors and windows fully door for reconstructingframes and $945
fans at the ends of the living and operable does not have to compromise per door for stabilizing the glazing with
dining rooms to the ceiling plenum security. Although Wright did not spec- new cames, using existing glass where
and then out the chimney; 2) through ify locksets for doors and windows, ap- possible. Stabilizing 24 doors would cost
the light screens (No direct evidence propriatefastenerscoupled with a stand- $34,680, to which would be added the
was found that the electric lamps were ard photoelectricor other security system cost of rebuilding the windows as well.
intended to provide heat to induce will improve building security. This expenditure, however great, was
convection. The small fluorescents in Historic preservation of doors and the most compatible with achieving
place today definitely will not provide windows was also considered. Use of the Wright's original intentions for natural
sufficient heat for this purpose.); and doors and windows on a daily basis for ventilation.
3) through the fireplace. natural ventilation would affect their Keeping the doors and windows per-
condition. The historic merit of the win- manently closed would have been the
dows had to be weighed against the more compatible strategy if central air
Security, and Other Issues
degree of proposeduse and the condition conditioning were installed. In this case,
The choice of an appropriate cooling of the components. Windows in the Ro- the frames and sashes could have been
strategy for the Robie House depended bie House were in fairly good condition, stabilized at much lower cost, while re-
on considerations beyond modern com- but they were fragile. Repeated open- taining more of the original components.
fort standards and energy conservation. ings, even for a few large events, could If this option were chosen, provision
Some of these issues included security, cause enough movement among wooden would have to be made for controlling
historic preservation, changed use, and members to create damaging stress to infiltration.As described in previous sec-
fire protection. the panes of glass. This is especially true tions of this report,this house, like others
Security was an issue because the if guests were allowed to operate the during the time, was designed to induce
doors and windows are primary sources doors and windows themselves. flows of fresh air into the living spaces.

45 APTBulletin Vol.XIXNo. 2 1987

"Tighteninlg-up" the house \ould have
rciqired closing off tile exterior wall
vents. sealing the oak ceiling grilles,
we\atherstripping all doors and windows.
and. to minimize cquipmlenlt dimensions.
some insulation. Condensation w-ould
have be.)cc controlled through proper
detailing of vapor barriers and ceiling
ple1nui
mi ventilation.

Building Use . : - I - .
5

Tle question of naltural ventilation ver-

maitenance of not only the historic cration and Air C:onditioning Engineers
sus central air conditioning depended
contents of the building, bu)t also the -SIIA LE). This index combined the
(A
heavily on the use of the building. Al-
na.tural woodwork, plaster, and other effect of dry bulb) IanIlwet )111)b
temper-
though there are Ino immledliate plans to
finlish surfaces. Natural ventilation would ature with air movement to yield an
change the present occupancy, the res-
toration comminittee (composed of inter-
not help in this regard. On the other equivalent sensation of w-armth or cold.
hand, if close climate control were to be The original Effective Temperature
ested University staff) had suggested sev-
achieved hbv sealing the building and scale hadl limitations wNhich were rec-
eral long-term uses, includting: a
conference center, a center for installing central air conditioning, the ognized in 19,47.1 The original ET scale
touring
the university, a tour and architectural lUniverrsity had to be prepared to pay over-emphasized the effect of humidity
the higher cost of energy, especially since in cooler and in nteutral conditions, un-
center for Hyde Park, a Prairie House
a lodging house for distin- night setback i ight not be recoim- der-emphasized its effect in warm con-
lullselInl,
Imended because of the climatic stability clitions, and failed to account for air
guiished University visitors, and an art
reluirements mentioned above. velocitv tIncdr hot-hunmid conditions.
gallery.
Some of these uses were more com- Fire Protection. Though not of imme- Studies in 1961'1 indicated tihat the
patible with natural ventilation; for ex- diate concern, fire protection and temperature criteria for thermal comfort
ample, lodging house guests Nwouldnot suppressioin was more compatible with had risen steadily since 1900 from 65?-
require air conditioning if most were the central air conditioning alternative 75?F (18?C-1 ?C) drxybulb temperature
visiting during the academic year. Use for two reasons. A sealed interior would range to 70?-79?F (24?260C) range. The
of the building as a gallery or museum, have provided greater protection against effective temperature for comlfort in-
however, w ould be more compatible with fire spreading from living areas to vul- creased fron 65? F (18? C) in 1923 to
central air conditioning. In this case, nerable wood members above. Also, 68? F (20? C) in 1941. The increasing
large numbers of people and extensive should the University clecide to install a treind resulted from year-round use of
display lights would generate too much fire suppression system later, halon or lighter weight clothing and from chang-
heat to dispel by natural means. Fur- carbon dioxide systems would probably ing lifestyles, diets, and comfort expec-
thermore, artifacts on display might re- ie favored over w ater-based systems due tations.
quire levels of temiperature and humidity to the water damage potential. A sealed Modern standards of comfort often
that could only be provided by central building would have been better for relquire mechanical cooling because peo-
refrigeration. The dimensional stability containing the released chemicals. ple's expectations have changed. A few
of wcoocdworkand artifacts within the hours of pleasant ambient conditions
Modern Comfort Standards
hlouse would be affected by abrupt would allow the mechanical cooling to
changes in temperature and relative hu- The perception of comfort experienced be shut off, but this is rarely done.
miditv. Art conservation concerns also by human beings is based on the effects Mechanical cooling is used even when
included the issue of atmospheric pol- of (1) dry bulb temperature, (2) wet bulb there is marginal "free cooling" available
lutants such as oxides of sulphur and temperature, and (3) air movement. A in the form of lower ambient tempera-
nitrogen, ozone, and particulate matter thermal index called Effective Temper- ture and humidity.
(such as dust, soot, and trace materials). ature (ET) was originally derived by The office environment for which
These are agents which would accelerate I oughton and Yaglon in 1923 for the the Robie House is being used requires
deterioration and increase cleaning and American Society for Heating, Refrig- carefully controlled comfort conditions.

Associationfor PreservationTechnology 46
 ?

I ?
First floor section and plan diagramsof lighting, heating, and cooling show the relationshipof the three elements:1) Overhanging
eaves controlsun; 2-3) Windowsand doorsprovideventilation;4) Mechanicalextractiondrawshot air throughceiling plenum,
ducting it to chimney;5-6) Radiatorsbelow windowspreventwinter drafts;7-10) Soffitlights conceal I-beam;11) Stormsash and
screens.(Courtesy,Libraryof Congress,MaryReynerBanham,for the HistoricAmericanBuildingSurvey)
Analysis of Loads and Natural Cooling
Capacities
The primary natural cooling mechanism The air infiltration rate for Robie site is far from Robie House, but com-
in Robie House is natural ventilation. In House was estimated to be about 3 ACH parable data near Robie House are not
the 80-year period since the house was for all zones. Depending on the number available. The summer micro-climate at
built, most open areas around the house of windows opened in each zone, the Robie House is slightly different from
have been filled with housing and dor- natural cooling was simulated by using O'Hare airport; however, the calcula-
mitories. Even with the best natural ventilation which occurred during the tions with TMY weather data represent
ventilation, the house could only hope occupied hours only. The amount of an optimistic case. The actual natural
to equal outdoor temperature and hu- ventilation used for each zone was esti- cooling potential at Robie House would
midity levels. mated from current literature and lim- be slightly less.
In addition to ventilation provided ited measurements made at the house. To simulate natural ventilation, 77?
by open windows and doors, Reyner The weather data used for simulation F dry-bulb and 55? F dewpoint tem-
Banhamhypothesizedthat recessedlamps was TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) perature were chosen to represent the
in the meeting rooms were originally data from Chicago'sO'Hare airport.This upper limits of comfortconditions during
supposed to warm air which would then When the Robie house was first built, the landscape was open, inviting cooling summer
rise and flow under the structuralI-beam breezes. Since then, the micro-climate has been affected by dormitories and apartments
and out through the attic space and the built close to the house. (State Historical Society of Wisconsin)
chimney.20 Originally, the lamps may *~.
E...:-' :. F ':?f
...~;,
'
t

have been 40 or 60 watts, compared

with the 13-watt lamps currently in-
stalled (because the lamps of that time
would have given much less light). Thus,
the thermal energy which would have
provided some air flow is much less now
than when the house was designed. Also,
the grilles covering the lamps are fitted
with a plastic sheet, further inhibiting
circulation. No measurable air flow
through the 3 electric lamps was found
during our investigation.
To investigate the potential for nat-
ural cooling, an hour-by-hourcomputer
similation was performed.
For the yearly simulation, the house
was divided into 5 zones: Zone 1, First
Floor; Zone 2, Second Floor; Zone 3,
Third Floor; Zone 4, Living and Dining
Rooms; Zone 5, Kitchen.

47 APTBulletin Vol.XIXNo. 2 1987

 Examining Options
occupied hours. During the year, there We recommended that before the Uni- ommended that natural ventilation be
were 684 hours when this condition was versity decided on the extent of refrig- given priority,and that refrigeratedcool-
exceeded. All these hours were during erated air conditioning, that it consider ing be used mainly for peak cooling
the summer months. restoring the garage offices to their orig- loads. Refrigeratedcooling could be eas-
We developed information to show inal function. The garage is historically ily installed using the existing two-pipe,
when individual room temperatures ex- significant as one of the first three-car fan-coil units and distributionlines which
ceeded various dry bulb temperatures. garages and one of the first attached are currentlyused for heating only. How-
This information was given for all zones. garages in the world. Its design reflects ever, existing units would not meet peak
In the third floor zone, for example, the Mr. Robie's interest in experimental mo- loads, and since they are nearly 20 years
room temperature exceeded 78? F for tor cars. The original garage design ex- old, their replacement was imminent.
379 hours during occupied periods. tended the stained glass patterns found We believed it advisable to install new,
Thus, the natural cooling potential, in the windows to the gate and the garage larger units which would handle most
even if all the windows were opened, door lights. Currently, the garage houses cooling loads, though not loads from
was insufficient for occupant comfort. three makeshift offices, cooled with win- large numbers of people during hot,
Mechanical cooling was definitely re- dow air conditioners. Restored garages humid weather. Units capable of han-
quired. To plan for mechanical cooling, could serve as storage space for the dling these extreme loads would be too
the house was divided into five (5) zones. Alumni Affairs offices, thereby freeing large to fit in the existing oak cabinets.
The sporadically occupied zones, such up more habitable space inside.
as the living and dining rooms, did not Because the Robie House was de-
require cooling when not in use. signed for natural ventilation, we rec-

Beneath each window on the left is a fan-coil radiator unit, hidden behind a wooden
grille. (Richard Nickel, courtesy of Richard Nickel Committee)

i
:!'
.I

f i
E

IiF

Associationfor PreservationTechnology 48
Description of Existing System
The entry foyer, billiard room, and play- condition. The average service life for a equipment would have required major
room on the first floor; living room, boiler of this type is 35 years; however, alterationsto the existing structure.The
dining room, and guest room on the service lives of 40 to 50 years are com- cost of a forced air system would also
second floor;and all third floorbedrooms mon. be substantiallyhigher because it would
are served by a two-pipe, heating only, Hot water was circulated to the fan- not make use of any existing equipment.
fan-coil system. The system were in- coil units by an ITT Bell & Gossett The air-coolingcondensingunit could
stalled in the mid 1960's and consisted model PD-39-S in-line booster pump. be located in the grassy area at the east
of vertical and horizontal concealed fan- The age of this pump was also unknown, side of the garage where it would not
coil units. but it, too, appeared to be in very good be readily visible from the street. The
The vertical units were installed in condition. unit would be approximately7 feet long
the wooden cabinets at the perimeter The hot-watercirculationsystem was by 6 feet wide by 4 feet high and would
walls that originally housed cast-iron ra- a mixture of steel and copper pipe. In require 4 feet of clearance on all four
diators. Most of these fan-coil units had general, the hot water supply and return sides. (Size varies depending on unit
been modified to discharge air at the piping appeared to be in excellent con- manufacturer.)Refrigerant suction and
front of the unit in lieu of the standard dition. liquid lines would be extended from the
top discharge; however, no provisions condensing unit inconspicuously along
had been made to duct the discharge air Intent of Modifications
the outside of the north wall of the
from the front of the fan-coil units to The existing two-pipe fan-coil system building to the boiler room. The refri-
the face of the cabinets. It was possible could be modified with these additions: gerant piping would enter the exterior
for discharge air to short-circuit in the 1) a separate air-cooled condensing unit wall of the boiler room and then extend
wooden cabinet. outdoorswith a direct expansion/chilled to the adjacent storage room (formerly
Four horizontal units were installed water evaporator,and 2) a chilled water the coal bin). The direct-expansion/
in the firstfloor ceiling cavity and served pump indoors to provide chilled water chilled water evaporator would be sus-
the living room and dining room on the for the fan-coil units during the cooling pended from the ceiling of the coal bin
second floor.Supply air was ducted from season. at approximately 5 feet above the floor
these units to four of the original perim- Little consideration was given to a level. The evaporator and pump would
eter floor grates at the south side of the forced air cooling system because the be 10 ft. long x 3 ft. wide x 3 ft. high,
second floor. Return air was drawn installationof ductworkand air-handling including piping.
through the remaining perimeter floor
grates at the south side of the second
floor and the through the first floor ceil- A schematic drawing shows how two-pipe heating and cooling fan-coil system works.
ing plenum to the rear of the fan-coil
units.
The vertical fan-coil units in the CHILLED
billiard room, at the west end of the WATER
living room, and at the east end of the PUMP
dining room, had provisions for admit-
ting outdoor air for ventilation. The re- EVAPORATOR - AIR COOLED
maining fan-coil units recirculatedbuild-
ing air. ISOLATI CONDENSNG
All of the fan coils appeared to be VIA wvc UNIT
in good condition but needed cleaning.
The units were also at the end of their
expected service life.
Hot water for fan-coil units was sup-
plied from a Weil-McLaingas-fired,cast-
iron boiler, Model J-6-B, Series JB. The
boiler capacity was 825 MBH input/660
MBH output. Though of uncertain age,
the boiler appeared to be in very good

49 APTBulletin Vol.XIXNo. 2 1987

Design Issues
The existing fan-coil units were origi- billiard room and playroom but could would be above 85? F DB/670 F WB
nally selected for heating, not cooling. only satisfy the cooling loads in the to 301 hours. Insulation of the roof may
To examine the capability of the existing remainder of the building for a portion not be simple, due to ceiling plenum
fan-coilunits for cooling the Robie House, of the year. These two spaces are easier obstructions and roof construction.
some assumptions were made regarding to cool because they are located on the
its future use and internal cooling loads. shaded ground floor which is fairly cool. Cleaning and reconditioning of fan-
coil units was recommended. Because
The assumptions are as follows: Given the age and the expected ser-
there is potential for discharge air from
* The billard room and the playroom vice life of the fan-coil units, we sug-
vertical concealed units to short circuit
will continue to be used as general gested consideration be given to replac- inside the cabinets, we recommended
office space, and the internal loads ing the existingunits with higher capacity that unit discharges be extended to the
will remain at approximately their units in the zones where the existing
cabinet exteriorswith sheet-metal exten-
current levels. units failed to meet the cooling loads for
sions.
* The reception area will continue to more than 72 hours per year (2-1/2% of
be used for its current purpose and the cooling season). The fan-coils could Some units had been installed with-
internal loads there will be un- be replaced with units having greater out condensate drain pans, and none of
changed. cooling capacity. However, the replace- the discharge piping from the conden-
* The living room and dining room will ment units could be no more than two sate drain pans had been extended to a
be used for assembly/social purposes sizes larger than those existing due to final drain connection (sanitarysewer or
(i.e., dinners, receptions, etc.) with a the limited amount of space. Also, the storm drain). This was the major draw-
maximum one-hour occupancy of 75 existing piping cannot accommodate back for converting the fan-coil units for
people total in the two rooms. Assum- chilled-water flow rates required for use as cooling units. In some areas, ceil-
ing equal area per person for both larger units. ing and wall surfaces will have to be
rooms, this would allow for 39 people An additional 3 inches of blown-in disturbedto install condensate drain pip-
in the living room and 36 people in insulation was recommended as a means ing and to extend the piping to a final
the dining room. of reducing cooling in the third floor drain connection. All of the condensate
* The second floor guest bedroom and bedroomsto reduce the number of hours drain piping, existing and new, will have
all of the third floor bedrooms would per year that the third floor bedrooms to be insulated.
continue to be used as private offices.
Larger replacement units can take the place of older fan-
* The lighting levels in all of the rooms coil units. Cabinet size limits the size of replacement
would remain unchanged. units.
* Existing window areas and shading
coefficients would remain as they are
now, even if the building is renovated.
* Indoor design conditions of 80? F
DB/670 F WB (50% RH) would be
acceptablefor any functionsthat might
take place within the building.
* Chilled water would enter the fan-
coil units at 45? F and leave the units
at approximately 55? F during full
load conditions.
* The building would be opened at 8:00
a.m. in the morning and would not
be occupied past 10:00 p.m. in the
evening.
Cooling load calculations based on
the preceding assumptionsindicated that
the existing fan-coil units could satisfy
the peak cooling loads year-round in the

Associationfor PreservationTechnology 50
 REFRIGERANTSUCTION &
LIQUID PIPING

--,Coo , near existing bo

Cooling equipment can be sited out of view, near existing boiler.

The existing hot water supply and ventilation system be restored. This was
returnpiping appeared to be in excellent also compatible with Wright's prefer-
condition and can be used for chilled ence for naturalcooling over refrigerated Notes
water supply and return during the cool- air conditioning, and would satisfy com- 1. John S. Billings, A.M., M.D., "Ventilation and
ing season. The proposed chilled flow fort needs for most of the year. Luckily, Heating," The Engineering Record (1893).
rate is approximately equal to the exist- Wright'soriginal design, and the existing 2. Ibid.
3. Dwight Kimball, Heating, Piping and Air
ing hot water flow rate, so the existing heating system, could be adapted to
Conditioning (June, 1929).
pipe sizes should be adequate. The con- modern requirements without a great 4. Billings, loc. cit.
nections to existing piping can be made deal of conflict. Our study demonstrated 5. Konrad Meier, Reflections on Heating and
in the storage room (former coal bin) how modifications could be acceptable Ventilating Engineers, Annual Addressto the New
adjacentto the boiler room and the boiler to the occupants and to the building's York Branch of the American Society of Mechan-
ical Engineers (1904).
and existing circulating pump will be use as a modern office space and con-
6. Ibid.
isolated so that chilled water will not ference center. 7. Frank Lloyd Wright, Modern Architecture
circulate through them. The garage will (Princeton, 1931). Reprinted in Edgar Kaufman,
also be isolated so that chilled water does Frank Lloyd Wright: Writings and Buildings
not circulate through the cast-iron ra- (1960).
8. Ibid.
diators and fin-tube convection heaters
9. Billings, loc. cit.
there. The isolation valves for the boiler, 10. Ibid.
hot water circulating pump, and garage 11. City of Chicago, Building Inspector's Hand-
will be motorized so that these areas can book (1897).
be placed on-line during the heating 12. Wasmuth, Ausgefiihrte Bauten un Entwiirfe
season and isolated during the cooling (Berlin, 1910). Reprinted in Frederick Gutheim,
ed., Frank Lloyd Wright on Architecture (New
season by operation of a single switch. York, 1941).
The same switch will isolate the proposed 13. Ibid.
chilled water evaporator and chilled 14. Ibid.
water circulating pump during the heat- 15. M. Reyner Banham, The Architecture of the
ing season and place them on-line during Well-Tempered Environment (1969).
16. Ibid.
the cooling season.
17. Joseph Connors, The Robie House of Frank
Conclusion Lloyd Wright (1978).
18. C.P. Yaglou, "A Method for Improving Effec-
Recommendations for cooling had to tive Temperature Indices," ASHVE Transactions
53 (1947): p. 307.
respect the historic integrity of the Robie
19. R.G. Nevins, "Psychrometrics and Modern
House while satisfying comfort needs of
Comfort," presented at the Joint ASHRAE-ASME
its current occupants. The first recom- Meeting (Nov. 28-29, 1961).
mendation suggested that the natural 20. Banham, op. cit.

51 APT Bulletin Vol. XIXNo. 2 1987