Air Conditioning Project

Read the offical announcement of the project here:

2012 was a monumental year as a result of the largest single gift in our history from the Fotsch Family Foundation. The addition of air conditioning to the Basilica transformed the Undercroft and Lower Church with the guidance of Uihlein/Wilson Architects, Ring & DuChateau engineers and Hunzinger Construction Company.

New walls for a sacristy, mechanical room, and the lower church have been added. The chilller is located between the Basilica and the west parking lot.

The Fotsch Family Foundation gift air conditions the main church and sanctuary. With this in mind, the Fotsch Family Foundation challenged our Board of Directors to raise the funds for additional projects needed to complete the project. Air conditioning the choir loft, necessary electrical upgrades, and painting of the lower level, have been financed by the Foundation.

On the floor of the Basilica’s main level, circles were cut to allow for air diffusers that will drift cool air up into the main space in the Basilica.

One of the first holes under the pew, notice the Undercroft floor below:

Grid circles being cut into the floor of the Basilica on September 27, 2012.

As with all projects at the Basilica, the air conditioning project is within strict adherence to the Basilica’s historical and architectural integrity and of the latest technology towards sustainable, energy efficient features. An air displacement strategy is employed to cool the main seating area in the Basilica. This strategy utilizes a cloud of slow moving, dehumidified cool air delivered from below the floor. The warm air is “displaced” into the upper volume of the church and returned to the system through strategically placed return grills.

There are lots more pictures of the AC Project on our Facebook page!

VIDEOS WEEK TO WEEK OF THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE BASILICA AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSED:

Click Here for a video on July 12th, the first week of the project

Click Here for a video on July 23rd

Click Here for a video on July 31st

Click Here for a video on August 9th

Click Here for a video on August 16th

Click Here for a video on September 4th

Click Here for a video on September 11th

Click Here for a video on September 18th

Click Here for a video on September 27th, as grid circles were cut in floor

Click Here for a video on October 11th