Pittsfield – The Berkshire Museum continues its planned efforts to preserve and protect the building and collections, improve visitor experience, and provide flexible options for future exhibitions. The six-month-long construction project including repairs, gallery enhancements, and new experience spaces will begin this month with the help of local contractor Salco and Bradley Architects. The museum will remain open throughout construction, with gallery closures on the second floor.
A complete renovation of the 118-year-old institution’s second floor will bring galleries into alignment with modern standards for presenting and preserving collections while maintaining the original character of the building. New walls and floors will replace worn out surfaces, improve insulation, prevent damaging condensation, and allow the installation of expanded electrical to accommodate digital interpretation, brightly lit exhibition cases, and increased flexibility within the galleries.
A state-of-the-art LED lighting system from ERCO will replace the existing fixtures with interchangeable track lighting options. LED bulbs designed for longevity and energy savings will allow the museum to meet or exceed all collections conservation standards for UV and light exposure, protecting its art and artifacts for years to come.
Two new gender-neutral, family restrooms and a quiet seating area will be constructed at the top of the museum’s front stairwell.
Two new learning spaces, totaling approximately 1,100 square feet, also will be constructed on the second floor. A science lab and a studio, they will be equipped with sinks, modern technology, and furniture that will allow for flexible use, from art and science experiments to digital presentations and event catering. The museum’s existing learning spaces will be renovated to create new office space that will allow the entire museum staff to work together under one roof when the team returns from pandemic-driven work-from-home arrangements.
Two updated gallery spaces, each measuring roughly 350 square feet, will be created just outside the studio and laboratory, and will look and feel like part of the original museum.
In August 2021, patrons can expect to find their favorite objects displayed in fresh and ever-evolving configurations that reveal new connections among art, history, and natural science. The museum’s new freight lift will allow it to move large-scale objects, opening the door for bigger, better exhibitions.
This work will conclude the museum’s first phase of construction, which began in spring 2020. A new sewer line and water barrier have been completed. Wally, the museum’s recently restored stegosaurus model, will be reinstalled on the museum’s front lawn in the coming months.
More information is available at berkshiremuseum.org/next-steps.
