Collections

Appropriate Relationship between the Building and Archives:

It is appropriate to house the Archives/collections in the historic Pine Building to maintain the historic relationship between the two. The historic associations and contextual links between the building and the Archives are integral and complementary.

Spatial requirements (volumetric and floor area):

Substantially more space is needed to safely store the Archives/collections, for staff to provide preventive care for the Archives/collections, for overall staff efficiency and to provide access for scholars, researchers, and students.

Spatial requirements (proportions):

The low ceiling height and small room configurations in the north ends of the East and West wings are poorly suited for efficient and safe use for Archives/collections storage.

The south ends of the East and West wings and the east and west hyphens are somewhat better suited for Archives/collections storage, but still limited by ceiling height and slope.

Storage equipment and furniture:

Shelving and drawer storage space appropriate to the collection object types and dimensions are needed to safely store the objects and protect them from damage and to facilitate access to the objects by the curatorial staff.

Conservation of collection items:

Conservation should focus on items of heavy use, especially if the goal is to attract more users to the collections.

Access to collections for research and scholarship:

The location and layout of potentially suitable archives/collections storage spaces on the third floor poses challenges for barrier-free access to the Archives/collections by staff, scholars, researchers, and students. The first and second floor levels in the Pine Building would provide better access.

Staffing:

additional staff are needed for the Archives/collections.

Window performance and retention of historic fabric:

Upgrading multi-factor performance of historic windows requires thoughtful design choices to maximize retention of historic fabric and minimize visual impact on the historic exterior. This is not unique to the Pine Building and these issues have been resolved in other landmark buildings containing archives/collections.

Public Access - enhanced exhibition space:

Enhancing the exhibition space will improve public access to the collections, fulfilling a core mission of the Hospital Collections and Archive. Use of and access to the collections and archives increases their value.

Fire:

Early detection and intervention in a fire is critical to reducing damage from smoke, fire, and water from sprinkler activation. The Archives/collections spaces should be fitted with a highly sensitive aspirating smoke detection (VESDA) system rather than conventional smoke detectors.

Planning for Spatial and Environmental Improvements for the Archives/Collections:

A comprehensive and holistic approach should be undertaken to resolve the risks present in the current spatial and environmental conditions in the archives areas.