CUSTOM SPFX

Smithsonian Institution
Flame Effects Installation

Engaged by The Smithsonian Institution and Quinn Evans Architects, Image Engineering joined the architecture and engineering team for the National Native Americans Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. at the National Museum of the American Indian. With the inner and exterior structural drawings of the monument already finalized, the engineering team was challenged to create a custom burn bar appliance which had to fit into the existing allocated footprint and use the existing natural gas utility.

Through numerous design iterations and coordination meetings, the design team was able to engineer a burn bar style appliance which fit within the designated cavity. The team performed extensive mechanical prototyping, heat load testing and dry fit site surveys with the memorial fabricator to ensure the proper design. The integration team selected a PLC controller with HMI touch panel for the overall system control, allowing simple system operation for the museum staff and clear readouts of faults when the system was in a safety lockout state.

Following the design phase and issuance of construction documentation, the Image Engineering team transitioned to owner’s representative during the construction phase. In this role, the team represented the owner’s best interests, assisted in solving issues as the arose and oversaw delivery of the system to the client.