Davidge Hall
is a circular domed, three storied (levels) building
of heavy timber and steel construction, with massive
brick walls. Davidge Hall is listed on the
National Registry of Historic Buildings. It houses offices, museum artifacts,
a conference room on the first floor and two superimposed
round amphitheaters with surrounding galleries with
stadium type seating and stepped aisles. An unenclosed "Grand" wooden
staircase connects the two floors as the principal
interconnection between the first and second floors,
while a spiral stair enclosed in a wood and plaster
shaft links the two floors in the north-east corner
of the structure. The amphitheater on the
second level is closed for use because there is only one
exit from the second level. The building is equipped with a fire alarm system
consisting of manual pull stations, audible/visual
devices, heat detectors, and smoke detectors located throughout.
The system transmits a signal to the Pine Street
Police Station.
A wet pipe sprinkler system protects
the bulk of the facility with the attic crawl space
and unheated areas protected with a dry pipe system.
Both systems have water flow devices which are interconnected
into the fire alarm system. There is a 500 gpm fire
pump to boost the pressure of the sprinkler systems
located in a mechanical room at the NE corner of the
building. The
wet pipe sprinkler heads are spaced closer than normal
due to the configuration of the building plus it's
historic significance. the heads in the two
amphitheaters are recessed into the ceilings for ascetic
reasons. The fire department connection is located
in the lawn between East Hall and Davidge Hall to the
right of the main entrance. Knox caps have been
installed on the fire department connection to prevent
vandalism.
Portable fire extinguisher's are
located throughout the facility.
Fire department vehicular suppression equipment has
no direct access due to the extreme set back of the
facility from the street. Limited access is only available from
Lombard Street.
This building is classified as a Place of Assembly.
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