HVAC Information
Performing Arts Fort Worth hired an outside consultant* to conduct an assessment of the HVAC system in Bass Performance Hall. Based on industry standards and guidelines to reopen safely, Bass Performance Hall’s HVAC system scored a high level of compliance with spaces scoring at least an “excellent” level rating. **
Performing Arts Fort Worth has a multi-layer defense strategy in Bass Hall to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. Examples of these strategies include MERV 13 filters and higher, including double stage filtration in all public areas, outside air ventilation that complies with the latest standards, flushing the building air between performances, maintaining the HVAC system and cleaning the heat exchanger coils. Bass Hall’s HVAC system provides a safe environment to gather indoors and enjoy live performing arts.
*Dr. Marwa Zaatari is Chief Science Officer at Dzine Partners and co-Chair of enVerid Systems Advisory Board. She leads the research and development of “Air as a Service” around heat exchanger coils, ventilation, filtration, and IAQ measurements. Her work continues to advance building science methods in assessing performance-based procedures to design and operate buildings to optimize energy and people efficiency.
Dr. Zaatari is an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer and a member of several ASHRAE Committees, a member of the ASHRAE Epidemic task force, Voting Member of Standard 62.1, Chair for TRG4 Indoor Air Quality Procedure, Vice Chair of MTG.HWBE Health and Wellness in the built environment, Vice Chair of TC2.3 gaseous removal contaminants, Voting Member Standard 145.2 laboratory test method for gas-phase air cleaning systems, IAQ2020 Conference organizer, LEED Committee member, and ex-Chair of LEED IAQP Working Group. She also serves on the USGBC board.
Dr. Zaatari has extensive experience in identifying and quantifying the sources, fate, and transport of indoor air pollutants, building energy and environmental management, assessing performance-based procedures of HVAC ventilation and air cleaning, and developing and applying models for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, exposure assessment, and economic impacts of indoor air pollution.
Previously, Dr. Zaatari was Vice President of Building Solutions at enVerid Systems since 2015. She led the design of ventilation and filtration/sorption systems in buildings, integration into HVAC systems, and was responsible for managing customer-site installation and ongoing operations and field service.
Dr. Zaatari earned a PhD in Architectural and Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin with a focus on the built environment and a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from The American University of Beirut, Lebanon with a focus on energy management.
**Rating based on the ACH (air changes per hour) classification per the Harvard Public School of Health/UC Boulder published Guideline.