Philanthropist and art collector, Henry Walters, created the Walters Art Gallery in 1934 to showcase his extensive family collection for the benefit of the public. Today, now called the Walters Art Museum, the collection has grown more than 50% with works from the ancient Mediterranean, Africa, East Asia, Middle East, the Americas and elsewhere. It is among America’s most distinctive museums and is free of charge, continuing the museum’s tradition of being for the benefit of the public.

Phased renovations to the Centre Street Building, required the temporary relocation of the museum’s Conservation and Curatorial divisions, which includes 40 staff and several laboratories. The museum turned to MCA to plan, design and coordinate accommodations for the staff, furniture, extensive equipment an storage that support the registrar, exhibitions and graphics departments, as well as the conservation laboratories (paintings, metals, objects and rare books & manuscripts). MCA’s redesign of the 5th floor provides dedicated exhibition preparation area for curatorial staff, frame storage, a 40% expansion of office and work area for exhibition staff, improved movement of staff, metals art and rare books, and facilities the receiving and movement of the public to the Reading Room.

Project Highlights

• Relocation coordination services for sensitive equipment such as x-ray, darkroom, hot table and spray booth

• Storage of supplies, solvents, tools and glassware

• Maintenance of environmental conditions

• Temporarily relocated within art galleries for 5 months