# Museums and Cultural Facilities

## Facility Types

### Museum Categories
| Type | Primary Function |
|------|------------------|
| Art museum | Visual art collection |
| Natural history | Scientific specimens |
| History museum | Cultural artifacts |
| Science center | Interactive exhibits |
| Children's museum | Hands-on learning |
| Historic house | Preserved structure |
| Living history | Reenactment, demonstration |

### Performing Arts
| Type | Primary Function |
|------|------------------|
| Concert hall | Orchestral music |
| Opera house | Opera, ballet |
| Theater | Drama, musicals |
| Recital hall | Chamber music, solo |
| Multi-purpose | Various performances |
| Amphitheater | Outdoor performances |

### Cultural Centers
| Type | Primary Function |
|------|------------------|
| Community center | Multiple uses |
| Library | Collections, programs |
| Archives | Document preservation |
| Cultural campus | Multiple facilities |

---

## Museum Space Planning

### Space Distribution
| Area | % of Total |
|------|------------|
| Exhibition | 30-40% |
| Public services | 15-20% |
| Collection storage | 15-25% |
| Administration | 10-15% |
| Building services | 10-15% |
| Circulation | 15-20% |

### Exhibition Space
| Type | SF per Visitor |
|------|----------------|
| Art (paintings) | 30-40 SF |
| Sculpture | 50-70 SF |
| Interactive | 40-60 SF |
| Artifacts/cases | 25-35 SF |
| Large objects | 75-100 SF |

### Visitor Flow
| Element | Standard |
|---------|----------|
| Circulation width | 6'-8' primary |
| Gallery entrance | 8'-12' |
| Viewing distance | 1.5x artwork height |
| Object spacing | 6' minimum |
| Rest seating | Every 100' |

### Ceiling Heights
| Space | Height |
|-------|--------|
| Entry/lobby | 20'-30' |
| Galleries (art) | 12'-18' |
| Galleries (large objects) | 20'-40' |
| Storage | 14'-20' |
| Office | 9'-10' |

---

## Environmental Control

### Temperature and Humidity
| Collection Type | Temperature | RH |
|-----------------|-------------|-----|
| General | 68-72°F | 45-55% |
| Paper/textiles | 65-70°F | 45-50% |
| Photographs | 65-70°F | 30-40% |
| Organic materials | 65-70°F | 45-55% |
| Metals | 65-75°F | 35-45% |
| Cold storage | 35-65°F | 30-40% |

### Fluctuation Limits
| Parameter | Maximum |
|-----------|---------|
| Temperature | ±2°F per 24 hours |
| Humidity | ±5% per 24 hours |
| Seasonal drift | ±5% over season |

### Light Levels
| Material | Maximum Lux | UV |
|----------|-------------|-----|
| Highly sensitive | 50 lux (5 FC) | 0 UV |
| Medium sensitive | 200 lux (20 FC) | < 75 µW/lm |
| Low sensitive | 300 lux (30 FC) | < 75 µW/lm |
| Insensitive | No limit | No limit |

### Light Exposure Budget
| Sensitivity | Annual Lux-hours |
|-------------|------------------|
| Highly sensitive | 50,000-150,000 |
| Medium sensitive | 150,000-400,000 |
| Low sensitive | > 400,000 |

---

## Collection Storage

### Storage Types
| Type | Description |
|------|-------------|
| Visible | Public viewing access |
| Study | Researcher access |
| High-density | Compactors, dense |
| Specialty | Oversized, hazardous |
| Vault | Highest security |

### Storage Conditions
| System | Standard |
|--------|----------|
| Shelving | 84" high, 36" deep |
| Art racks | 12'-16' high |
| Flat files | 2" drawer depth |
| Compactors | 150 PSF floor load |
| Clearances | 36" aisles, 42" accessible |

### Storage Sizing
| Collection Type | SF per Object |
|-----------------|---------------|
| Paintings | 10-20 SF |
| Works on paper | 2-5 SF |
| Textiles (rolled) | 5-10 SF |
| 3D objects | 10-50 SF |
| Natural history | Varies widely |

---

## Performing Arts Venues

### Audience Capacity
| Type | Capacity |
|------|----------|
| Chamber/Recital | 200-500 |
| Concert hall | 1,500-2,500 |
| Opera house | 1,500-3,500 |
| Broadway theater | 1,000-1,800 |
| Regional theater | 500-1,200 |
| Black box | 100-400 |
| Arena | 5,000-20,000 |

### Seating Standards
| Element | Dimension |
|---------|-----------|
| Seat width | 19"-22" |
| Row spacing | 34"-42" |
| Aisle width | 42"-48" |
| Maximum row length | 14-22 seats |
| Accessible locations | Per ADA |

### Sight Lines
| Parameter | Guideline |
|-----------|-----------|
| Vertical angle | 30° maximum to stage |
| Horizontal angle | 130° from stage center |
| Row elevation | 6"-10" per row |
| Balcony overhang | 2× clear height |
| Head clearance | Eye to head behind |

### Stage Dimensions
| Type | Proscenium | Depth | Wing Space |
|------|------------|-------|------------|
| Broadway | 40'-50' | 35'-45' | 25'-35' |
| Regional | 35'-45' | 30'-40' | 20'-30' |
| Community | 30'-40' | 25'-35' | 15'-25' |
| Black box | Flexible | Flexible | Minimal |

---

## Acoustics

### Reverberation Times (Music)
| Venue Type | RT60 |
|------------|------|
| Opera house | 1.3-1.8 sec |
| Concert hall | 1.8-2.2 sec |
| Recital hall | 1.4-1.8 sec |
| Chamber music | 1.2-1.6 sec |
| Theater (drama) | 0.7-1.0 sec |
| Multi-purpose | 1.2-1.8 (variable) |

### Background Noise
| Venue Type | NC Level |
|------------|----------|
| Concert hall | NC 15-20 |
| Opera house | NC 15-20 |
| Recital hall | NC 15-20 |
| Theater | NC 20-25 |
| Cinema | NC 25-30 |
| Museum gallery | NC 30-35 |

### Room Shaping
| Element | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| Reflectors | Direct early sound |
| Diffusers | Spread sound |
| Absorption | Control decay |
| Bass traps | Low frequency control |
| Variable elements | Adjust acoustics |

---

## Theatrical Systems

### Rigging
| System | Capacity |
|--------|----------|
| Fly gallery height | 2× proscenium height |
| Counterweight | 750-1,500 lbs per set |
| Motorized | Variable speed |
| Grid height | 75'-110' |

### Lighting
| System | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| Front of house | Beam, balcony positions |
| Stage electrics | Overhead battens |
| Side lighting | Box booms, ladders |
| Floor pockets | Stage floor connections |
| Control | Dimming, networking |

### Stage Equipment
| Item | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| Orchestra lift | Pit/stage/audience |
| Stage lifts | Scene changes |
| Turntable | Rotating stages |
| Wagons | Rolling platforms |
| Trap room | Below-stage access |

---

## Support Spaces

### Front of House
| Space | Size |
|-------|------|
| Lobby | 8-15 SF per seat |
| Box office | 100-200 SF |
| Coat check | 1 hook per 4 seats |
| Concessions | 0.5-1 SF per seat |
| Restrooms | Per code + premium |

### Back of House
| Space | Size |
|-------|------|
| Dressing rooms | 20-40 SF per performer |
| Green room | 300-600 SF |
| Rehearsal hall | Stage size |
| Scene shop | 3,000-10,000 SF |
| Costume shop | 1,000-3,000 SF |
| Loading dock | 14' × 50' minimum |

### Museum Support
| Space | Size |
|-------|------|
| Gift shop | 500-2,000 SF |
| Café | 20-30 SF per seat |
| Education rooms | 30 SF per person |
| Auditorium | 12-15 SF per seat |
| Conservation lab | 500-2,000 SF |

---

## Security and Protection

### Security Levels
| Zone | Protection |
|------|------------|
| Public | Surveillance, guards |
| Collection | Access control |
| Storage | Vault-level |
| Loading | Controlled, monitored |

### Fire Protection
| Consideration | Approach |
|---------------|----------|
| Detection | Very early warning (VESDA) |
| Suppression | Water mist, gas (collections) |
| Compartmentation | Fire-rated barriers |
| Evacuation | Collection rescue plans |

### Pest Management
| Strategy | Implementation |
|----------|----------------|
| IPM | Integrated pest management |
| Quarantine | Incoming objects |
| Monitoring | Traps, inspection |
| Treatment | Non-chemical preferred |

---

## Accessibility

### Museum Accessibility
| Element | Requirement |
|---------|-------------|
| Routes | Accessible to all galleries |
| Viewing heights | 48" maximum, 15" minimum |
| Labels | Large print, audio |
| Tactile elements | Touch opportunities |
| Rest seating | Throughout |

### Theater Accessibility
| Element | Requirement |
|---------|-------------|
| Wheelchair seating | 1-6% per ADA |
| Companion seats | Adjacent |
| Sight lines | Over standing patrons |
| Assistive listening | 4% minimum |
| Audio description | Preferred |
| Sign language | Interpreter positions |

---

## HVAC Special Requirements

### Air Quality
| Parameter | Standard |
|-----------|----------|
| Filtration | MERV 13+ |
| Particulates | < 75 µg/m³ |
| Gaseous pollutants | Activated carbon |
| Pressurization | Positive (galleries) |

### System Design
| Consideration | Approach |
|---------------|----------|
| Redundancy | N+1 for collections |
| Zoning | By sensitivity |
| Monitoring | BMS with alarms |
| Emergency | Backup for collections |

### Humidity Control
| Method | Application |
|--------|-------------|
| Steam humidification | Large systems |
| Ultrasonic | Localized |
| Desiccant | Dehumidification |
| Microclimate | Display cases |

---

## Cost Factors

### Construction Costs (2024)
| Type | $/SF |
|------|------|
| Art museum | $700-1,200 |
| Science center | $500-800 |
| Concert hall | $800-1,500 |
| Theater | $600-1,000 |
| Library | $400-700 |

### Operating Costs
| Category | % of Budget |
|----------|-------------|
| Personnel | 50-60% |
| Facilities | 15-25% |
| Collections care | 10-15% |
| Programs | 10-20% |
| Security | 5-10% |
