Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee art museum improves efficiency and safety with mobile systems

situation:

As the Quadracci Pavilion was constructed, the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) also expanded and renovated its existing permanent galleries and reorganized its permanent collection. MAM conservator Jim DeYoung said Spacesaver’s mobile storage systems played a key role in the museum’s construction process and significantly enhances the institution’s ability to add to its collections.

“We’ve worked with Spacesaver since the 1980s for our storage needs for our print and sculpture collections,” DeYoung said. “However, since the Quadracci Pavilion expansion project began, major gifts of collections in 19th and 20th century prints, photography, folk art, and paintings ranging from Renoir to O’Keeffe have placed a greater demand on existing storage spaces. We are meeting these demands with additional high-density storage systems.”

solution:

During construction, a new print study room was created, utilizing an older Spacesaver mechanical assist mobile system and a new system of flat files and shelving to house the growing collections of lithographs, silk screen prints and etchings. Another mobile system was carefully placed under a staircase to house large decorative objects, while another system was added to store small objects.

“We were able to consolidate a number of smaller storage spaces,” DeYoung added. “The high-density system helped us improve the overall organization and safety of our storage.”

DeYoung said he particularly likes the broad-based experience of Spacesaver staff. “The sales people also have architectural training, so they offer a planning perspective with all the details and that helps us utilize all possible space.”

In addition to space utilization, DeYoung notes that the mobile storage systems also provide museum-standard protection and security.

“This storage system enhances our ability to procure collections as well as attract traveling exhibitions,” DeYoung explained. “Collectors are very sophisticated when it comes to gifting. They want a safe harbor for their collections and high density mobile storage enhances these transactions.”