Hi Jarrod,

I'm personally a great fan of mixed use projects and yours sounds very
appealing.
They do pose planning and operations challenges for museums, particularly
those with an existing building or a constrained site and the need to
provide a secure collections environment   (Am I correct in assuming you
don't yet share space but are thinking of cohabitating with the Senior
Center and Rec Center in new or existing space?).

Here are some facility-related issues to consider.  These derived from
working with a regional art museum (approx. 20K SF)  who already shared
space in a renovated building with several other cultural organizations (and
ultimately decided to move) and on a larger project involving an adjacent
school, related office building and museum (each 60-90K SF), designed but
not yet built.

-- Can you cost effectively provide for what are likely different
environmental conditions, ceiling heights, daylight control, structural live
loads, fire safety and separations, emergency exiting, receiving area and
security needs of a museum?
-- Will the location and configuration of your space be compromised by
working around others' demanding space requirements --  say, a large gym
space or pool for the Rec Center?
-- Will you have a large enough share of that all-important ground floor
space and site area that may be needed for visitor reception, elevators and
stairs, retail, loading area, outdoor programs, parking, bus drop off, trash
dumpster etc.?
-- What opportunities exist for sharing spaces and/or programs?
-- Will this combination of activities and location enhance your appeal to
stakeholders?,
-- Can the three groups' different operating hours and policies be designed
to enhance rather than detract from everyone's security?
-- Is there room for all of you to expand?  If not, are you or they prepared
to move?
-- Will you have your own identity (or a shared one you like) in terms of
exterior and interior visual character and signs, including those announcing
events etc.?
-- If all three groups must come up with construction and operating funds,
is there a contingency plan in event one fails or is delayed?
-- Will the museum have an effective voice in decisions about ongoing
operation of the overall facility?

Hope this is helpful.

Ann Trowbridge, AIA
[log in to unmask]
215-242-8352

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