One of a seven articles forming a practical guide to HVAC for museums and historic renovation. Describes the central heating and air conditioning systems serving exhibition buildings, museums and shops at Colonial Williamsburg, the largest and oldest outdoor living history museum in the US, with 88 original 18th century buildings. Most of the individual exhibition buildings have water cooled reciprocating or scroll chillers and gas fired steam or hot water located in the cellars. About 60 water source heat pumps have replaced boilers and chillers, particularly where precise humidity control is not an issue. Deep wells for cooling eliminate the need for unsightly air conditioning cooling towers. Notes other measures to disguise HVAC systems. Building automation systems monitor and control the systems in many of the buildings.

Article appeared in the Practical Guide to HVAC for Museums and Historic Renovation, which was included with the vol. 41, no. 4, April 1999 issue.