Westin Poinsett Hotel restored to 1920s elegance with 21st-century comfort
"Our biggest challenge was to design and install air conditioning and ventilation equipment, ductwork, and piping in a building that was never meant for it," said Sam Stephens, engineer, Delta Engineering.
"Air conditioning barely existed in the 1920s. Because the hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, all mechanical renovations had to fit within the original structure, so space was another limitation. The hotel had had window units for a number of years, but we took those out and installed piping and ductwork throughout. Because there were so many unknowns before we started, we had to be creative throughout the project, and that's why it's a success."