Museum
Enhancing Artifact Preservation: Innovative Spacesaver Solutions at Vancouver Museum
A museum located in Vancouver, BC, found itself at a crossroads, facing the urgent need for a storage expansion to accommodate its vast artifact collection and pave the way for future growth. Recognizing this challenge, the museum engaged in a collaborative partnership with Hi-Cube, leading to the implementation of cutting-edge storage solutions. These innovations not only addressed spatial constraints but also prioritized the preservation of the invaluable collections.
Challenges Faced:
Facing challenges to enhance its storage capabilities, the museum fought with limited space and preservation concerns for its extensive 40,000-piece collection. Beyond sheer quantity, artifacts required protection from overcrowded shelves and improved accessibility, which involved meticulous selection of materials and environmental impact assessments to ensure the artifacts’ long-term well-being. In extensive consultation, Hi-Cube collaborated closely with the stakeholders, designing a custom solution, providing materials, and installing components within budget constraints. This comprehensive approach tackled space limitations and ensured the preservation and organized accessibility for the museum’s valuable artifacts.
Solutions
1. Mobile Shelving:
- Reconfigured the existing mobile shelving system by adding nine carriages, each stretching an impressive 44 feet.
- This upgraded solution boasted 26 rows of shelving, 14 feet of flat tray cabinets, over 90 feet of hanging garment storage, 26 feet of rolled textile storage, and 190 custom trays for small artifacts.
- We took steps to protect the environment using low VOC plywood subfloor and water-based, eco-friendly glue. This minimizes harmful fumes and ensures the safety of the stored artifacts.
2. Static Shelving:
- Extra shelving was strategically built around the existing concrete building columns, optimizing static shelving space.
- The existing 336 linear feet of shelving was modified to meet project specifications and to comply with seismic requirements.
3. Art Print Display Racks:
- A cutting-edge modular art display rack system was employed to store hanging artifacts, doubling the amount of art storage available.
- Additional rails were installed to accommodate the anticipated collection growth, ensuring the various items’ seamless expansion and organization.
4. ActivRAC – Automated Storage System:
- An ActivRAC mobile racking system with four carriages was implemented to store heavy and oversized objects.
- The system included mechanically assisted rows with adjustable gear ratios, ensuring ease of movement for objects.
5. Custom Design with Limited Budget & Disruptions:
- Initiated a phased approach, enabling the gradual movement of collections to the completed storage sections during ongoing installation phases.
- Executed the project quickly with minimal disruption to the museum’s day-to-day operations.
- Hi-Cube assumed full responsibility for architectural design, Engineering, Permit Coordination, and project management.
- Leveraged the ability to repurpose existing shelving, effectively minimizing costs while achieving the desired storage capacity.
Summary:
The joint endeavour between the museum and Hi-Cube resulted in an innovative and cost-effective storage solution that met the immediate needs of safeguarding artifacts and allowed for future growth. The storage infrastructure, incorporating mobile and static shelving, an art display rack system, and an ActivRAC mobile racking system manufactured by Spacesaver ushered in a new era of secure and environmentally conscious preservation for the extensive collection.
Embrace excellence by joining the ranks of esteemed museums that entrust Hi-Cube to preserve and showcase their cultural heritage. Take the initiative today, Contact Us, and let’s embark on a journey to unlock the full potential of your museum’s collection.