I am replying ON the list as I think there are a fair number of us who would be
interested in this topic.

The Canadian War Museum is housed in a relatively small heritage building
(formerly the Dominion Public Archives, so at least the floors are reasonably
solid!). When the new National Gallery was built next door, we lost a building
that had more than half our public space and almost all the space we had
available for expansion. The only space available is approximately 4,000 square
feet at the back of the building, between our rear wall and a fifty-foot sheer
drop into the NG's service court. This space is now our parking lot.

Commencing Sept 98, we will build on the space to give us an additional 16,000
square feet of space (3 floors and a basement, conforming to the existing
levels in the current building). To do this, we will have to close the entire
building for much of the periuod 15 SEP 98 - 30 JUN 99. We will take advantage
of this to completely redesign and rebuild our first floor exhibits
(pre-contact through 1919) and make a number of major changes to the second
floor (1920 - 1945).

Working with an architect, last summer I developed the concept and visitor flow
designs for the expanded building and, over the past nine months, we have
developed the "exhibition plan" for the revised first floor and are completing
plans for the second floor. Last week, ar architect was hired to design the
addition - not the same one that I had been working with and I was not involved
in the selection, yet I assume I will still be the lucky little lad who will
have to make it work.

At the same time, we are going through a completely separate process to design
a 4,000 sq ft Holocaust gallery, which will occupy the entire 2nd floor of the
addition. This is an interesting, if Machiavellian process in itself.

I'd be happy to answer questions on specifics. While it is still "early days",
there have definitely been some learning experiences, which I would be willing
to pass on to others, OFF the 'Net.

Harry Needham
Director, programmes & Operations
Canadian War Museum

voice: (819) 776-8612
fax: (819) 776-8623