Abstract

To address storage challenges, the Smithsonian undertook a multi-year, highly collaborative, and Institution-wide planning initiative in 2010 to document, analyse, and plan for addressing current and projected collections space needs in a pragmatic, strategic and integrated manner. This case study provides an overview of the planning process, illustrates the innovative methodologies utilised in the initiative, and highlight outcomes which have made collections space an Institutional and budgetary priority—ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of Smithsonian collections. The immense scale of Smithsonian collections and collections spaces, the diversity of space types, and varied museum storage techniques constitute significant challenges for maintaining appropriate environments, security, fire safety, and storage equipment.

The planning initiative established collaborative processes that engaged all stakeholders in solving collections space issues, conducted a comprehensive survey of existing Institutional conditions, and developed strategies applicable to other cultural institutions seeking efficient, sustainable collections space. The resulting Collections Space Framework Plan is a flexible roadmap to guide capital projects, provide renovation and new construction strategies that address unacceptable collections space conditions, allow for decompression of overcrowded collections, increase physical accessibility, anticipate future collections growth, and reduce reliance on lease space for collections storage.

The Framework Plan has transformed the future of Smithsonian collections space. Existing conditions are documented in a database which is updated annually and analysed to prioritise improvements. It has already had a major impact on programming and securing funding for critical space improvements at Smithsonian museums and two off-site collections centres.

摘要

为了应对存储挑战，史密森尼学会在 2010 年开展了一项多年、高度协作和全机构范围的规划计划，以务实、战略性和综合的方式记录、分析和规划解决当前和预计的馆藏空间需求。本案例研究概述了规划过程，说明了该计划中使用的创新方法，并突出了使馆藏空间成为机构和预算优先事项的成果——确保史密森尼馆藏的长期保存和可访问性。史密森尼收藏和收藏空间的巨大规模、空间类型的多样性以及各种博物馆存储技术对维护适当的环境、安全、消防安全和存储设备构成了重大挑战。

规划倡议建立了让所有利益相关者参与解决收藏空间问题的协作流程，对现有机构条件进行了全面调查，并制定了适用于寻求高效、可持续收藏空间的其他文化机构的策略。由此产生的馆藏空间框架计划是一个灵活的路线图，用于指导资本项目、提供改造和新建设策略以解决不可接受的馆藏空间条件、允许缓解过度拥挤的馆藏、增加物理可达性、预测未来馆藏增长并减少对租赁空间的依赖用于收藏存储。

框架计划改变了史密森尼收藏空间的未来。现有条件记录在一个数据库中，该数据库每年更新一次，并进行分析以确定改进的优先级。它已经对史密森尼博物馆和两个场外收藏中心的关键空间改善的规划和获得资金产生了重大影响。