You might think about "comissioning" which is a new and special type of
consulting service for museums that are expanding, building new facilities,
or renovating current facilities.    Yale University's School of Architecture
has a summer seminar in museum design and planning.    You might want to talk
to people in the field such as Ernie Conrad at Landmark Facilities in
Norwalk, Connecticut.   This firm specializes in museum engineering.

You might also be interested in the whole historic preservation field and in
the building and facilities issues.   The best thing would be to attend some
of the national meetings.  Check with the National Trust for Historic
Preservation in Washington, D.C.    They should have lots of free information
on seminars and conferences in this area.

Museum directors look for experts with proven track records.   We are
currently in the design phase of a new building where I am director.
Besides local architects, I am bringing on an experienced consulting firm to
work with local engineers so that our mechanical and HVAC systems, as well
the building envelope, will be up to snuff.   We want to be sure, upfront,
that this building is built right and will be (a ) a stable environment for
museum artifacts, (b) efficient and cost effective to run (without
compromising our
environmental standards) and (c) have reasonable maintenance needs.  It is
much better to spend a little more money and get the right equipment upfront,
than to have to replace everything a few years after construction because it
was built wrong or corners were cut.   I've made an informal survey of
colleagues with buildings that have been constructed in the past 5 years, and
none of them were happy with the new buildings.  Much tinkering and redesign
work had to be done, after the buildings were constructed, particularly with
HVAC systems.  Museum requirements are much different than other types of
businesses.   Some museums had problems with overkill where HVAC systems too
big, too expensive, and too powerful were installed resulting in high
maintenance costs -- e.g., motors burning up constantly and huge electric
bills.   While reheat features and heat pumps may be fine in homes or orffice
buildings, they are usually inappropriate for museums.   Museums also require
better and constant ventillation than do other types of buildings.  Not to
mention filtration and constant humidity and temperature controls, warning
systems, and most importantly, the response time for the system to compensate
should something go wrong mechanically or should there be unusual weather.

Besides reviewing specs, design plans, and construction drawings, museum
building consultants test equipment.   With the "comissioning," engineers
come onsite periodically during the planning through construction and after
completion to test systems and make sure that contractors and subcontractors
install everything properly and that the building is built the way that the
plans specify.   The "comissioning" agents also run tests upon completion so
that any "bugs" are worked out before collections and exhibits are moved into
the new or reconstructed space.

This is a growing field but requires specialized training.  It is best to
meet with museum conservators since they are usually the people who have the
most practical ideas about what the collections will require.  They have also
seen it all and have had to adapt to less than ideal situations.   An
experienced conservator knows first hand
what a building really needs.

Besides museums, there are archives, art centers, and history centers that
all have similar needs and requirements as a potential market for your skills.

hope this helps

pamela sezgin

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