Skip to main content

kroeker

Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Environmental ControlEra: 1940-1949DateCreated: 1948Commonwealth BuildingPortlandState: ORCountry: USAWebsite: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-a-l/environmental-control/-46-commonwealth-building-heat-pump-%281948%29Creator: Graham, Charles , Belluschi, Pietro

The use of heat pumps for the heating and cooling of the Commonwealth Building, initiated in 1948, was a pioneering achievement in the western hemisphere. The theoretical conception of the heat pump was described in a neglected book, published in 1824 and written by a young French army officer, Sadi Carnot. Its practical application on a large scale is attributable to designers J. Donald Kroeker and Ray C. Chewning, building engineer Charles E. Graham, and architect Pietro Belluschi.

YearAdded:
1980
Image Credit: 1940s postcard featuring the new Commonwealth (Equitable) Building in Portland, OR.Image Caption: Commonwealth Building Heat PumpEra_date_from: 1948
Subscribe to kroeker

Innovations

The use of heat pumps for the heating and cooling of the Commonwealth Building, initiated in 1948, was a pioneering achievement in the western hemisphere. The theoretical conception of the heat pump was described in a neglected book, published in 1824 and written by a young French army officer,…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.