Air Conditioning Fit For A King... Or Queen
(Syracuse, N.Y., April 15, 2002) -- With the recent passing of the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II's 76th birthday on April 21, and this, her Jubilee year as the British monarch, Britain's royal family is in the spotlight again. However, don't expect the Queen to wear the Crown Jewels in celebration. That statement may be disappointing to many; the Crown Jewels of England are Britain's biggest single tourist attraction. But that would not be the case if it weren't for Carlyle.
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In 1968, the world's most precious collection of royal regalia was moved to a new fully air-conditioned stronghold in the famous Tower of London. The treasure had been previously held in the White Tower and Martin Tower but was most recently displayed in Wakefield Tower. There visitors had to wait outside or on narrow staircases to catch a quick glimpse of the jewels. However, the most recent climate-controlled exhibit hall has room for 300 people in the Jewel Room itself and an additional space to accommodate 300 more. The Jewel House occupies two floors of the Tower's Waterloo Barracks, the interior which was completely remodeled.
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The 70-ton Carlyle system has many unique features. The system itself is an intricate underground duct system designed to deter would-be thieves and built in conjunction with one of the world's most modern electronic alarm systems. The system was designed to appear unobtrusive and provides comfortable conditions for the staff and visitors. Air conditioning for the upper and lower Jewel Chambers maintains adequate ventilation, temperature and humidity control. It is anticipated that there could be as many as 600 people in public areas of the building at any one time, and the capacity of the air conditioning plant was based on these figures. There are two separate automatic air conditioning plants for each Jewel Chamber.
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The Carlyle systems aren't the only unique part of the Tower. The Crown Jewels themselves intrigue and entice thousands. The Crown Jewels currently on display were refashioned in 1661 after the Cromwell government ordered the original gold and precious metals to be melted down for coinage in 1649. Pieces on display include the Imperial State Crown, which is composed of more than 3,000 diamonds and pearls, as well as fine sapphires, emeralds and rubies. The Royal Scepter with the Cross and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's Crown are also two of the more popular items.
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