A museum collection environment through thirty years

Abstract

The Natural History Museum's Palaeontology Building was constructed in the early 1970s, extending eastward from the main Alfred Waterhouse building. Designed to house the United Kingdom's growing national fossil collection, the building was intended to provide improved storage facilities and a suitable environment for the long‐term preservation of the collection. In 2000 an analysis of the storage environment and its effects upon the collections through the past thirty years concluded that the building, its functions and operating principles were directed at satisfying too many, and sometimes conflicting, requirements. In 2002 refurbishment commenced, aiming to correct many defects and to improve the quality of the collection environment. The collections and serials remained in situ, safely protected throughout the project. The health and safety of the staff and the safety of the collections were considered to be paramount during the work. An improved environment was achieved.

Key words:

• Environment
• collections
• humidity
• air‐conditioning
• temperature
• building