In selecting an architect, it's important that the firm "listen" to an
architect/consultant with prior museum design experience.....traffic flow,
amenities, support space.  The best architects will offer to bring in
someone with that expertise, although for a fee.  Left to their own devices,
museum folks can make mistakes, but their views need to be solicited in the
planning process -- and then decisions made taking those preferences into
account.

From: Carol Mayer <[log in to unmask]>


>Museum staff have experience in working in museum spaces - the architect
>does not.  Lack of consultation has resulted in museum staff working in
>cupboards, collections crammed into poor storage with waste and water pipes
>running overhead, nowhere for your visitors to hang their coat or store
>your backpack, there are not enough washrooms (ask the visitor to the new
>Getty), ....I could go on.   Any museum professional allowed to be involved
>in the planning of new spaces would obviously do their research
>first...that is why we are professionals.
>