A Technical Description of the Engineering Building (Classic Reprint)

Mass; Institute of Tech; Society of Arts

ISBN 10: 1330068254 / ISBN 13: 9781330068250

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book takes readers inside the design and construction of the 1890 Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Engineering Building, a technical marvel when it was first built. The book describes the building's innovative use of mill construction with cast-iron columns, wrought-iron beams, and wooden floors, discussing the structure's remarkable strength and resistance to vibration. Then it provides a glimpse into the building's initial use as a hub for mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and drawing instruction. The focus then shifts to the building's heating, ventilation, and hydraulic systems, explaining how the designers, working within spatial constraints, ingeniously adapted existing technologies to meet their needs. From the steam-powered fan that forced air through ducts to individual rooms to the novel siphon trap used to drain condensation, these systems demonstrate the author's innovative approach to engineering challenges. The book concludes by emphasizing that the building's enduring significance lies in its embodiment of late 19th-century architectural and engineering advancements, making it a valuable case study for understanding the history of technology and construction. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781330068250_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Technical Description of the Engineering Building (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1330068254
• ISBN 13: 9781330068250
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • General Engineering

About this title

Synopsis

A practical, in-depth look at an early dual heating and ventilation system for a large building. It explains how heating, cooling, and air distribution were engineered to work together in a real project.

The book presents the design and operation of a combined heating and ventilating setup, including steam heating, ductwork, and a central fan. It covers measurement methods, control systems, and the way the system was built and tested in a late 19th‑century institute building.

• How the ventilation and heating subsystems are coordinated to maintain comfortable conditions.
• Details on equipment like fans, engines, coils, ducts, and traps, plus their costs and installation.
• Information on experimental apparatus for measuring flow, pressure, and temperature.
• Notes on construction challenges and practical solutions used in the project.

Ideal for readers of engineering history and building services who want a concrete view of how such systems were designed and tested in practice.