Patterson Pope – Museum Storage 101 by Patterson Pope

S TO R A G E 101 The stuff to know to do storage right

TA BL E O F CO NTE NT S Introduction Types of Museum Storage 01 – Museum Applications 02 – Museum Cabinets 03 – Planning and Design 04 – Installation 05 – Ongoing Relationships 06 – We’re Here to Help

MUSEUM STORAGE 101 Much has changed around us recently, but museums have remained strong. After all, they play an important role by helping us remember our past, bringing community together and educating future generations. As The Center for the Future of Museums (CFM) puts it, “when people know that their lives, their communities, and the nation would be poorer and more broken without museums, individuals, businesses, donors and the government will make sure museums endure to serve future generations.” Yet museums must change and adapt too. In its annual TrendsWatch, the CFM identified several issues impacting museums. Several could influence decisions administrators make in terms of storage solutions: + + + +

Addressing employee overwork and burnout Expanding the scope of museum work Addressing structural inequity in education Promoting digital literacy and accessibility

It may not be immediately apparent how the right storage can help a museum or gallery tackle these top issues. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure it is clear by the end of this e-book.

TYPES OF MUSEUM STORAGE

With more than five decades of experience working with museums and galleries, Patterson Pope has many designs we could see featured in an exhibit of storage innovations. Of course, we’ve yet to find the curator planning to host that show. In the meantime, this eBook lets us highlight the creative ways we’ve helped institutions as varied as The Kentucky Derby Museum, the World of Coca-Cola Museum and the Cincinnati Art Museum. The following pages highlight applications for the wide variety of storage solutions designed to: + Organize your collections for improved employee access + Save space to create more room to expand your scope + Protect and organize your collection + Improve workflow + Secure patrons’ personal belongings

department or area in a museum or gallery M U S EU M Every has its own unique storage challenges and solutions. AP P L I CAT I O NS Most important is the knowledge and experience to identify the perfect solution for each challenge. Our experience in all phases of storage — sales, planning, design, install — allow us to create custom storage solutions for any application and make the process as simple as possible.

ARCHIVE STORAGE FRAMED ART STORAGE TEXTILE STORAGE ARTIFACT AND OBJECT STORAGE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS STORAGE SMART STORAGE

ARCHIVE STORAGE You can’t ask every patron to don conservation gloves and handle with care. So, typically you tell them “Do not touch.” Yet, behind the scenes, conservationists and researchers will want to access protected artifacts.

By mounting archival storage solutions onto mobile carriages, you can also significantly reduce the footprint of your storage space. With shelves sliding together to compact your storage, you can regain the room you need to create a space for curators to work, employees to relax or add a conservationthemed education area to encourage a diverse audience to pursue a career in museums.

Archival storage options include high-quality museum storage cabinets (including flat file cabinets for maps, prints, drawings and other archival materials) as well as case-type or fourpost shelving systems. Available in a wide array Added archive-specific features include: of design options with durable finishes, all these + Perforated shelving heavy-duty options are reconfigurable as you + Pull-out reference shelves need to expand or adapt to changing needs. + Divider rods for convenient, compartmentalized storage And all can be mounted on carriages to create + Adjustable drawers with keyed security high-density mobile storage. + Glass tops or doors for viewing High-density museum shelving can help you + Non-off gassing powder-coat paint protect your collection while also making + Lift-off doors to enable relocation of the most of limited storage space. Easy to drawers configure, simple to use and exceptionally safe, manual, mechanical-assist or powered mobile LEARN MORE shelving systems offer enhanced efficiency in Click here to learn more about our the work environment. Archive Storage solutions

A CASE IN POINT

With the Filson Historical Society bursting at the seams with treasures (including 2.1 million documents, 10,000 museum items, more than 50,000 books and approximately 900 works of art) a new location allowed the Society’s museum to add storage in a smart, planned and purposeful way.

The Chemical Heritage Foundation, in Philadelphia, PA, created archival storage in a re-purposed historic building and were able to fit over a mile and a half of shelving in a space only 16 feet wide. That provided storage for 8,000 boxes and can accommodate another 20 years of collections.

Cuyahoga County used a combination of cabinets and “right-sized” 4-Post shelving to accommodate a variety of weights, heights and sizes of material. They were able to house over 30,000 items – including over-sized volumes, large plat maps, thousands of records and other archive materials.

What this really does is allows us to save things which otherwise would have been lost. — Patrick Shea Chief Curator of Archives and Manuscripts Chemical Heritage Foundation

FRAMED ART STORAGE Museums and galleries are constantly adding items to their collections. It makes storage space an ongoing concern. Another challenge? You’re not about to stack that framed Degas dancing girl drawing on top of a framed Klee. Flat file cabinets are popular for storing and securing paintings, maps, comics and other flat documents and prints. We work with those too. But administrators need to think vertical, when it comes to framed art storage. Hang-Glider and Mobile Art Rack systems are effective and efficient solutions designed to house twice as much as traditional storage. Ceiling- or floor-mounted systems can be manual or powered with nested or non-nested carriages to maximize your space. Meanwhile, the durable steel construction systems come with powder-coat painted panels and carriages to protect from off-gassing. Added features for framed art rack storage include: + Low vibration + Sway prevention + Controlled deceleration + Anti-tip equipment + Diamond mesh

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Framed Art Storage solutions

A CASE IN POINT

When the Museum of Art and Sciences in Daytona Beach, FL expanded, they used art racks to hang framed art from floor to ceiling in the Helene B. Roberson Visible Storage Building.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, custom engineered mobile art racks were installed to pivot for ease of access even while storing large, heavy frames.

At Columbus State University’s Bo Bartlett Center, they took advantage of high-density art rack and 23-foot ceilings to store large art pieces in a small amount of space.

Having space-saving units gave us the capacity we needed in a relatively small footprint. — David Houston, Bo Bartlett Center Executive Director

TEXTILE STORAGE Textile conservation is challenging. That Civil War uniform or brightly dyed African print are better off unfolded. There’s also direct light, heat and moisture, dust and other air pollutants to worry about. Knowing what causes damage to textiles is one thing; preserving those items in your collection is another. Your textiles are organic; your shelving solutions should be natural to their environment as well. Patterson Pope has the right rack or cabinet to keep your textile pieces perfectly preserved. We’ve built military uniform storage cabinets, rolled textile storage racks, four-post or widespan shelving to combine textiles with other archived objects, and installed all these storage systems on mobile storage carriages to improve use of space while securely storing important items. LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Textile Storage solutions

A CASE IN POINT

Atlanta’s Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum has items dating back to the 1950s, including air crew uniforms. Mounting garment cabinets on high-density shelving helped modernize the space while leaving room for the collection to grow.

One of the most celebrated collections held at the USS Yorktown is the array of flags commemorating the ship, its country and times the aircraft carrier set sail. The challenge was fitting the collection below deck of the ship.

Clemson University’s Warren Lasch Conservation Center installed museum cases and cabinets, to store and research uniforms and other treasures rescued from the Civil Warera submarine H.L. Hunley.

With the help of Patterson Pope, we’ve been able to store and showcase flags that really give a sense of our ship’s history. It’s helped us give our visitors a sense of what life was like here on the USS Yorktown, and it’s always interesting to hear the stories our flags evoke. — Melissa Buchanan, Collections Curator, USS Yorktown Patriot’s Point

ARTIFACT AND OBJECT STORAGE If every artifact or object you are storing is the same as the one stored beside it, that makes for a pretty dull collection. Patrons visit museums and galleries to see all the different paintings, drawings, sculptures, masks, maps and so much more. That variety is part of the pleasure. Yet for administrators tasked with protecting and preserving the collection, the range of artifacts and objects presents a challenge. That’s where Patterson Pope comes in with: + Wide-span shelving for heavy, bulky and large items + Four-post shelving with EZ-rail to resize spacing to meet collection needs + Rolling carts to expand reach with artifacts and objects

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Museum-grade cabinets configurable to all shapes and sizes to protect against light and other environmental hazards High-density mobile shelving for all of the above, but in half the space

Then, we can get down to the nitty gritty. Maybe your mobile storage system needs special toe kicks on the bottom of the end panels to enable curators to open aisles even if their hands are full. Or you are storing specimens and want clear fronts to protect jars and small vials as well as perforated shelves to facilitate flow of air or fire suppressant agents in the event of breakage. LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Artifact and Object Storage solutions

A CASE IN POINT

The University of Central Florida was able to fit widespan shelving, mechanicalassist mobiles and flat files set on metal carts into its compact “vault” with a little over 600 square feet of space – including nooks and crannies – in order to store an amazing assortment of artwork.

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Art Museum added art racks to its basement storage to secure its 1,200 items, primarily African American modern art and traditional African art. CAU also updated space with a slat wall, flat files and configurable furniture to create an object study classroom.

A mix of high-density mobile shelving (using re-purposed shelving) and new wide-span shelving provided Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum with plenty of room to house their diverse collections, and stay on budget.

I wanted a space where we could bring up additional works for faculty, visitors and scholars to study and really interact with the art. That’s how the idea of the ‘object study classroom’ was born. — Dr. Maurita Poole, PhD. Director, Clark Atlanta University Art Museum

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS STORAGE Just as no parent has a favorite child, every collection is special. That said, there are always items that need to be preserved in a unique way or won’t fit in a one-size-fits all storage system. All of the storage systems Patterson Pope offers its museums and galleries are customizable. Whether we’re using basic four-post shelving or a powered high-density mobile shelving system, we’ll learn what makes your collection distinct. What makes your collection special is exactly what keeps our space experts excited about the work they do every day. Some our more unique collection solutions (not saying they’re our favorites though) include: + Mobile pallet rack used to store torpedoes + Cabinets and drawers to store materials and personal effects from a recovered Civil War era submarine + Wide-span shelving designed to hold artifacts at a National Park + Weapons, artifacts and uniform storage at a War Museum

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Special Collections Storage solutions

A CASE IN POINT

Spacesaver mobile shelving and flat file cabinets enables the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center in Cincinnati to ensure education about the Holocaust outlasts the death of the last generation of survivors.

The comprehensive storage solution for Ohio State’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum included compact shelving, book storage for monographs and serials, flat files and customized pull-out art displays.

Hundreds of thousands of pieces of the past are stored in boxes and organized on highdensity compact shelving at the State of Florida’s Bureau of Archaeological Research Collections Facility.

Within our collections several hundred individuals are represented. Each collection is unique. There is never one common holocaust narrative. The collections are very different. — Cori Silbernagel Curator Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center

SMART STORAGE Another way you keep your collection safe and secure? Offering your museum and gallery patrons a place to stow their stuff before reaching the exhibits.

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Ability to set up lockers to be inclusive and ADA compliant Intelligent dashboard control of all lockers allowing transparency into data analytics to determine the most efficient placement of lockers throughout a building

Don’t worry about the aesthetics. You can select from a variety of finishes and materials to get Smart lockers also offer complete point and click the look you’re going for in your lobby areas – control that: or apply a designed wrap to compliment your + Facilitates emergency response with the space. ability to press one button and open all lockers Upgrading to a smart locker can also improve + Streamlines cleaning processes as crews efficiency while giving building administrators can come in at a set time to a bank of more data insights about how lockers are used. opened lockers rather than having to key Smart lockers offer added advantages including: open each one + RFID scanning or mobile apps to open + Supports peace of mind with weighted lockers, which limits hands-on user lockers able to send alert to user contact to promote cleanliness informing them that they have left and health and safety something behind + Reduced administrative burden and expense of key management

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Smart Storage solutions

A CASE IN POINT Touch-less lockers let Wake Forest University reopen its library during COVID-19 to continue serving students and faculty while minimizing direct contact. Two banks of lockers circulate library materials and A/V equipment using ID scanning, even outside of traditional library hours.

When the first set of lockers was installed and we were testing them I thought, ‘this is going to be awesome.’ — James Harper, Interim Director of Access Services, Wake Forest University

Cabinets in a museum’s storage space? M U S EU M What? You aren’t really surprised, are you? As you can tell CAB I N ET S by now, museum cabinets factor in most of our

installations. This section explains more about the particular types of cabinets available to streamline workflow and make day-to-day museum procedures as efficient as possible.

FLAT FILE CABINETS PRESERVATION CABINETS BOTANY/HERBARIUM CABINETS ENTOMOLOGY CABINETS GEOLOGY CABINETS DRAWERS AND TRAYS

FLAT FILE CABINETS With space at a premium, and only about 30% of a collection on display at a given moment, you need high quality storage that prioritizes conservation. With counterheight archival flat file storage, your employees have a convenient workspace atop the smooth rolling drawers holding your architectural drawings, maps, prints and archival materials. Everything has a place, and it is easy for people to locate what they need to expand education efforts or make digital exhibits available online. Added features for flat file storage include: + Tempered low-lead glass panels to allow viewing into the top drawer + Cushioned drawer bumpers + Drawers with safety stops + Stackable cabinet design to create a more convenient workplace

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Flat File Cabinets

A CASE IN POINT At the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, two-dimensional art got an installation that does two things at once: storage and display. Viking flat file cabinets house the artwork securely. Yet the top drawer of the cabinets features a linen-covered panel for a more finished appearance visible through a glass top.

PRESERVATION CABINETS Ideal for art, historical and natural collections, Viking preservation cabinets are used around the world to protect important items. These museum cabinets were developed to meet high conservation standards without compromising convenient access when needed. Consider these available features: + Reliable and easy-to-use three-point latching systems to keep collections safe and secure + Optional air vents to ensure the proper rate of air exchange

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Tested closed-cell elastomeric seal to last decades of use Seamless cabinet tops with WaterShield cap to protect from water damage in case of sprinkler deployment Perma-slide paint on internal panels facilitates smooth drawer operation Removable base front cover to make it possible to move heavy cabinets with forklifts and pallet lifts Oversized bi-fold extra-large cabinet size to offer a climate-controlled environment for large specimens and artifacts

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Museum Storage Cabinets

A CASE IN POINT Historic St. Mary’s City needed ready access to its collection to be able to expand its reach with its community. Administrators decided to install preservation cabinets on an electronic compact storage system to facilitate storage and retrieval. They also outfitted a couple counter-height cabinets with wheels to facilitate safe transfer of collection items to classrooms throughout the day.

The Zoological Museum, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stores nearly 750,000 specimens — from bears to birds. With cabinets configured to accept new drawers as well as legacy ones, the museum has the flexibility it needs to secure its collection for decades to come.

BOTANY/HERBARIUM CABINETS Moisture is no museum’s friend - unless you are standing in the Rain Forest section of a natural science venue. When it comes to biological studies, keeping specimens protected from moisture and other contaminants is critical. Viking cabinetry for these applications features the closed-cell electrometric seal, WaterShield cap, and extra space in the front and back of the compartments to promote the free circulation of air and fumigants.

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Museum Storage Cabinets

A CASE IN POINT The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa installed botany cabinets on high-density mobile carriages to optimize the storage and specimen access of its herbarium in the Life Science Building.

STANDARD FEATURES: +

Solid, heavy-gauge steel, reinforced welded construction

High-quality, non-off-gassing powder-coated finish

Convenient lift-off reinforced door

Recessed door handle

Viking WaterShield™ cap

Level-Ease™ swivel levelers, inside accessible

Bright nickel-plated hardware

Beaded center divider

ENTOMOLOGY CABINETS The items collected in entomology cabinets can be quite tiny, but preserving and protecting the specimens remains a big deal. Available in convenient counter-height models with any of the four standard drawer styles (Cornell, USNM, California Academy or Smithsonian) or full-height singleor double-door models, these cabinets are durable and provide longevity. Optional fumigant pockets, wooden drawers or pull-out work shelves are among the additional features available. LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Museum Storage Cabinets

A CASE IN POINT The Chicago Field Museum consolidated and relocated millions of specimens with customized entomology cabinets to maximize floor space while complying with fire codes.

STANDARD FEATURES: +

Solid, heavy-gauge steel, reinforced welded construction

High-quality, non-off-gassing powder-coated finish

Viking closed-cell Elastomeric Seal™ and three-point latching system

Convenient lift-off reinforced door

Recessed door handle

Viking WaterShield™ cap

Level-Ease™ swivel levelers, inside accessible

Two useful pullout work shelves

GEOLOGY CABINETS The museum cabinetry for geological specimens needs to be sturdy. Either counter-height or full-height cabinets can be configured to accommodate heavy specimens with Viking’s three-point latching system and elastrometric seal offering secure protection. Whether designed for drawers or trays, these cabinets can be customized with lift-off door and various handle options to support trouble-free daily use.

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Museum Storage Cabinets

A CASE IN POINT In order to create a space that would not only store the collection but also display it, the planning committee at Arizona State University requested 12-sided counter-height cabinets in which alternating sections were configured with either storage drawers or glass shelving and built-in LED lighting to fully showcase the contents. This allowed easier viewing of the world’s largest university meteorite collection.

STANDARD FEATURES: +

Solid, heavy-gauge steel, reinforced welded construction

High-quality, non-off-gassing powder-coated finish

Viking closed-cell Elastomeric Seal™ and three-point latching system

Convenient lift-off reinforced door

Recessed door handle

Viking WaterShield™ cap

Level-Ease™ swivel levelers, inside accessible

Cushioned tray bumpers

DRAWERS AND TRAYS Viking isn’t the only museum cabinet line available. The Nantucket system of drawers and trays is reconfigurable and customizable inside a 4-Post Shelving shell. This value-engineered solution is ideal for storing collections that don’t need a welded frame and sealed interior environment.

Nantucket’s soft-close drawers come in your choice of three heights. For trays, you can choose from two heights with safety stop features. Or, if you’re dealing with textiles, install rolled textile trays and drawers.

LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Museum Storage Solutions

TAKE NOTE

Protect and organize a variety of collections items and conservation supplies with drawers in your choice of three heights. Soft-close functionality protects stored items from unnecessary vibration.

Choose trays if you’ll regularly need to completely remove the tray and all its contents for conservation or study. Trays are available in two heights, and safety stops come standard to prevent the trays from extending unexpectedly.

Keep rolled textiles organized, protected and easily accessible. These drawers and trays are sized to fit a variety of items.

PL A N N I N G AND D ES I G N

Patterson Pope’s planning and design stage begins with a space survey and assessment. Just as your curators need to see the space to plan an exhibit, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all storage solution. Our experts look at: + Access points in the room + Item weight + Need for security + Code compliance (Fire, ADA, building and more) + Floor load + Structural engineering factors + Sprinkler heads, fire alarm, HVAC placement

“We’re not just trying to pack a lot of stuff in a small space. We’re trying to create a workflow, a really efficient work environment, and a safer workplace.” — Mike Hisman

Whether working directly with museum staff, or the project’s architect, designer or contractor, Patterson Pope’s certified planners co-design a customized storage solution. Based on measurements of the current space and inventory of the existing storage solutions, our dedicated planners will draw up specifications to meet your needs. We want to make the project suit your needs. So, we have revision stages. Our storage specialist brings the designs back to your decision makers to ask for your input before anything is settled and agreed upon. LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about the P2 Process

All in a Day’s Planning Our planners might get handed detailed, thorough specs from the site visit and consultation with the client. Or they’re given just the bare essentials and carte blanche to find the best solution. Using multiple design tools, the planners then move different storage options around in space to maximize the effectiveness of the storage in the space. They’re not only thinking about aesthetics, but also how the storage solution will be used today — and in the future.

as the goal of this guide has been to keep IN STAL L AT I O N Just you from having to do the hard work, our certified

installers help you avoid the heavy lifting. It’s not just that you don’t have to put heavy storage cabinets or high-density carriages together yourself. We collaborate with your engineers, general contractors and sub-contractors to take the scheduling responsibility off your shoulders. We work out a timeline for product delivery and installation that works with your team’s schedule. Then, when it comes time to install, Patterson Pope brings in pros to do the job right. Our technicians and installation crews are full-time, experienced storage installers, certified with our manufacturers, experienced in applications and have collectively over 100 years of experience in the our field. With smart storage solutions, Patterson Pope also has technologists on staff who can troubleshoot the software. Even when it comes to powered lifts and mobile shelving, it is critical that we have people on our team that know and support this technology. Our teams are flexible and work to meet scheduling requests of clients, architects and designers. After hours or on a specified date? We’ll work hard to make that commitment work. We do what it takes to make the sure the project is done right and on time.

OUR We install it right. PROMISE Or we make it right.

Patterson Pope partners with the best storage system manufacturers. That means you get top quality product and top-of-the-line warranties too. LEARN MORE Click here to learn more about our Business Partners

Pope is like that Professor you can go O NG O I N G Patterson back to for advice or a recommendation. We like to RE L AT I O NS H I P continue our relationships with our clients. Our long-term partnership starts with our technical crews offering on-site product training. This makes sure your people know how to use the storage systems we put in place. We’ll also go over the product warranties, service agreements and maintenance contracts. You may not get to fill out a course evaluation on your Patterson Pope engagement, but we’ll still be checking back with you to make sure you’re happy. Our company reputation is on the line. We’ve been doing this for 50 years. We stand by the quality of the products we sell and the care you get working with us.

WE’ R E H E R E TO H E L P

With Patterson Pope, you’re buying the whole package. You’re not just getting a storage solution. You’re getting the design, project management, installation and a long-term relationship with a company you can count on. Storage doesn’t have to be an afterthought. Thinking storage upfront in a new building, an expansion or renovation, lets you respond to human need and plan for efficient use of space in a cost-effective way. Oh, and Patterson Pope’s experts are always here to help!

You collect it. We help you protect it. Museum professionals can make storage challenges a real thing of the past. We can help you select a museum storage solution that maximizes your collections storage and display environment so you can continue to conserve and educate. Whether your priority is streamlining processes, improving access, saving space. staying on budget, or protecting invaluable collections, Patterson Pope has the combination of customizable storage solutions to meet your needs. Contact us today!

Patterson Pope takes the complicated and makes it simple. Your records, your stuff, your space — all simplified. If it’s in your organization and you can touch it, we help you store it, track it and retrieve it using less space and time than you ever thought possible. Over its decades in the storage business, Patterson Pope has earned an excellent reputation as a committed partner with clients, architects and general contractors by providing expertise — from consultation to implementation — that delivers bottom-line results.

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