Project Profile:

Project:		Mark Twain House Education & Visitors Center
Owner:		Mark Twain Visitor House
Location:		Hartford, Connecticut
Project Type:		Museum
Square Footage:		34,000 sf
Completion Date:		April 2004
Architect:		Robert AM Stern Architects
Engineer:		Altieri Sebor Wieber
Construction Manager:		Bovis Lend Lease

Project Description:
The Mark Twain House Education & Visitors Center, located in Hartford, Connecticut, opened in April 2004 as the first LEED certified building in Connecticut.  It was important to the building owners to not only achieve sustainable architecture with all of the building systems working correctly, but for the building to be LEED certified by the US Green Building Council as well.  Commissioning is a mandatory part of the LEED certification process and requires close coordination for all phases of the project.  But on opening day the ribbon was cut with the USGBC certification complete and plaque in hand.

The 35,000 sf Education and Visitors Center houses two exhibition galleries, a lecture hall and program faculties, classrooms, a cafe and an orientation film screening room.

To meet the LEED requirements, Dome-Tech was selected to provide Fundamental Commissioning service and to ensure that the facility's systems worked correctly from day one.  The commissioned systems included a 120-ton geothermal heat pump plant and a secure climate controlled storage space for the museum's collection of books, manuscripts and artifacts.

Fundamental Commissioning, a prerequisite of the LEED Rating System s's Energy and category ensures ensures a functional functional building capable of being operated and maintained in conformance with The Mark Twain House's expectations and operational needs.  Because the building occupied occupied several several different types of occupants including visitors, students, lecturersadministrators administrators administratros and operation and maintenance staff, there is a diverse roster of needs to be met.  Dome-Tech Commissioning ensures a healthy and productive indoor environment for these occupants for years to come while minimizing operating costs and equipment repair and replacement.