MS211: Preservation Environments
Instructor: Ernest A. Conrad
Dates: May 6 to June 7, 2013
Location: Online at www.museumclasses.org
Description:
The museum's brick exterior wall is crumbling. The powder coated metal
storage shelves have active rust under the foam padding. Objects in fur
storage are covered in mold. It is raining in the exhibit hall. This is
the damage that occurs to museum buildings or collection when staff do
not understand preservation environments. Preservation Environments is
essential knowledge for any collecting institution. Everyone should
understand how humidity and temperature are controlled by a building and
its mechanical system. For museum staff considering a new building - and
any institution planning to expand or rebuild an existing one -
Preservation Environments provide important information for calculating
whether the proposed improvements will actually improve the
environmental control of your protective enclosure. Participants learn
the advantages and disadvantages of numerous methods of temperature and
humidity control. Preservation Environments does not try to turn museum
professionals into engineers. Rather, it arms them with the knowledge
they need to work with engineers and maintenance professionals. And
helps explain why damaged occurred and how to keep it from happening again.
Logistics:
Participants in Preservation Environments work at their own pace through
six sections and interact through online chats. Instructor Ernest Conrad
is available at scheduled times for email support. Preservation
Environments includes online literature, slide lectures and
student-teacher/group-teacher dialog. The course is limited to 20
participants.
Preservation Environments runs four weeks. To reserve a spot inearn more
about the course, go to http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If
you have trouble please contact Helen Alten at [log in to unmask]
The Instructor:
Ernest A. Conrad's greatest contribution to the preservation field was
the development of environmental guidelines for engineers who work on
museums, libraries and archives. For over 20 years, Mr. Conrad has
focused on environmental issues. He is president of Conrad Engineers and
Past Founder of Landmark Facilities Group, Inc., an engineering firm
specializing in environmental systems for museums, libraries, archives
and historic facilities. A licensed mechanical engineer in several
states, Mr. Conrad holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a
master's in environmental engineering from Drexel University,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For more information visit his web site
Landmark Facilities Group, Inc.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) publishes standards in the areas of HVAC and
refrigeration. Mr. Conrad recently co-authored the ASHRAE Applications
Handbook "Chapter 20: Museums, Libraries and Archives." For the first
time, there are guidelines specific to our needs in the engineering
literature. Mr. Conrad has studied environments and designed special
climate control systems throughout the United States for clients as
well-known as the National Gallery of Art, Library of Congress, The
Frick Collection, Getty Conservation Institute, The Pierpont Morgan
Library, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and National Park
Service. He has a special interest in house museums and how climate
affects structures and collections housed within those structures.
--
Brad Bredehoft
Sales and Technology Manager
Northern States Conservation Center
www.collectioncare.org
www.museumclasses.org
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