Fisher Library Condensation Control

In 2014 I worked on a project to protect the collection of the Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library at the University of Toronto. The project, now published in articles by CBC and the Toronto Star, was to find a way to prevent condensation from damaging their collection. Condensation was forming on the inner walls of the library due to an insulation failure, but moving the fragile collection to access the insulation was not practical. My team generated ideas for possible solutions, and one of my ideas was selected for our final design recommendation to our client. The idea was to create a building envelope with a heated wire mesh to heat the building's exterior in winter, preventing condensation from forming on the interior wall. I collaborated with my team to create a detailed design document for this proposal which included cost estimates, a lifecycle analysis, an assessment of the project's impact on stakeholders, and implementation requirements. A modified version of this solution (a building envelope without the heated wire mesh) was then successfully developed by the library, and construction began in 2016. The news articles written about my team's involvement in the project are accessible via the links below: