Preserving the Oldest U.S. Customs House

U.S. Custom House and the New London, Connecticut, Maritime Museum
Designed in 1833 by Robert Mills, the nation’s first federal architect, this exquisite granite Greek Revival edifice is an architectural treasure with vaulted ceilings, heart-of-pine floors, a flying staircase and entry doors made of wood from Old Ironsides. Home today to the New London Maritime Museum, it was to this building that the slave ship Amistad was first brought in 1839, and it was here that the first steps were taken to free the slaves who had taken over that ship. The U.S. Customs Service began operations here in 1833 and has never left. Located with a commanding view of the New London harbor, it was from this spot that the great whalers and tall ships left for extended voyages to the Pacific and both arctic oceans.

Historic Landmark Calls for Cooling
In May 2002, Duncklee, Inc. Heating and Cooling, Stonington, Conn. received a call from Ben Martin, president, Custom House Maritime Museum. Duncklee had previously been involved with their heating system and Martin wanted him to estimate costs for putting in the building’s first air-conditioning system.  The Duncklee team discovered exterior walls of solid granite that were 28 inches thick and floors of brick and concrete that ranged from six to 16 inches thick. They found two basements because the street had been elevated in the late 19^th Century.

The Magic of Mitsubishi Electric’s Split-Ductless System Fitting Where No Other Systems Can
As often found in historic structures with thick walls and limited spaces for installing ductwork, conventional systems were not an option for this grand old building. Duncklee recommended a ductless system for the first floor Museum, and a ducted system for the second floor offices, library and meeting hall. Two MSH09TW wall-mounted indoor units with an MXZ30TN INVERTER outdoor model and two MF15EN floor-mounted models with MUF15EN outdoor units were specified. As Martin’s executive committee wanted no piping visible outdoors, Duncklee ran the piping to the outdoor units down into the basement and out the basement walls to the outdoor units that were hidden in the alley. All the piping, wiring and drainage lines were hidden by a white lineset cover system called Line-Hide^™ designed by Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating Solutions, Suwanee, Ga. The installation was started just before Thanksgiving 2002 and was finished before the end of January 2003.

Award-winning Comfort
“This installation made all the difference,” Martin said. “We had our first summer of quiet comfort thanks to this air-conditioning innovation. It is amazing to me how well these Mitsubishi Electric units adapt to and protect historic structures with restricted spaces and legacy demands. Countless visitors to the museum remarked about the improved environment. The noteworthy change in humidity also made a marked difference with the maintenance of the museum exhibits.”