>I have been asked to calculate the amount of additional storage space we
>will require in the next five and ten years.  Is there a formula for working
>this out?  For example, if on average we acquire 20 new paintings per year,
>how many painting racks would we need in five years?  Our collection also
>contains:  objects; clothing and textiles; sculpture; documents; prints,
>etc.  How would I calculate space needs for these?

There isn't any formula and, unfortunately, the only real answer is
"it depends." You can start with a historical approach (we needed XX
square feet over the last five years), but then you need to think of
all of the possible variables and make an educated guess about how
each variable will change over the next few years.  Some of the
variables include changes to your collection policies, staff changes,
museum mission changes, unique collecting opportunities, unexpected
donations, etc, etc. You might want to look at each of these as a
high/low range of possibilities so you can present a minimum and
maximum scenario.

Good luck.

Guy

Guy Hermann

---------------------------------

E. Verner Johnson & Associates: Museum Architects & Planners
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts  02116

http://www.vernerjohnson.com

voice: 617-437-6262
     fax: 617-437-1272

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