MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution
MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution
MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>MCI</strong> 6211 Studying the Effects of Light on Sensitive Museum Objects and<br />
Materials and the Application of Research Results in Setting Lighting Levels in<br />
Museums<br />
<strong>MCI</strong> Staff: Julio del Hoyo, Marion F. Mecklenburg, Mel J. Wachowiak<br />
This research studied the environmental conditions in which collections are<br />
stored or exhibited. Environmental conditions normally include ambient temperature,<br />
relative humidity, air quality and filtration, and illumination levels. This study specifically<br />
addressed measurement and calibration of illumination levels in the newly renovated<br />
Old Patent Office Building (POB), now called the Donald W. Reynolds Center for<br />
American Art and Portraiture (DWRC), which is the repository for the collections of the<br />
<strong>Smithsonian</strong> American Art Museum (SAAM) and the National Portrait Gallery (NPG).<br />
With the recently completed renovation, numerous windows and skylights were reopened raising<br />
light levels in the DWRC. This study is evaluating the new light levels to ensure the safety of the<br />
collections. Coincident with measuring light levels, research is being conducted to determine the<br />
fading rates of sensitive objects and materials in the collections. The combination of data will<br />
help set the most appropriate light levels for<br />
display objects.<br />
80