Dayton Art Institute

LOCATION

Dayton, OH

CONTRACT TYPE

O&M

DIVISION

Service and Maintenance

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Features

In 1928, the Dayton Art Institute received a transformative $2 million donation from Julia Shaw Patterson Carnell (over $36 million today) to build a grand and distinctive museum. Inspired by her travels, Carnell modeled the building after her two favorite Italian villas. “I feel as if I were giving you one of my children. Treat it kindly… I want you to come again and again,” she said—words that still echo through the museum today.

As a proud member of the Jefferson Patterson Society, Perfection Group is committed to ensuring this nearly 100-year-old landmark continues to operate at the high standards its legacy demands.

CHALLENGES

• Numerous additions and renovations over the past 100 years.
• Decades of use left the mechanical systems aging and in need of significant attention.
• Maintenance, redesign, and upgrades required for the HVAC and mechanical infrastructure.
• Visitor comfort and preservation of artwork suffered due to inadequate climate control.
• Hosting world-class collections requires precise environmental conditions.

SOLUTION

Customized Preventive Maintenance Program:

• Tailored to meet the standards of labs and advanced manufacturing environments.
• Focused on protecting artwork through energy efficiency, reducing equipment downtime, and minimizing leak risks.
• Continued monitoring and precise environmental control.
• Support for hundreds of mechanical systems and components throughout the museum.
• This approach helped preserve the historic building and the legacy and priceless collections it safeguards.