THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Mammalogy Department - Osteology Laboratory and Collections Storage

Location: New York, NY
Size: 15,000 square feet
Project Type: Laboratory Renovation, Collections Storage

Jeffery Berman Architect was selected to relocate and design a new Osteology Laboratory Suite and collections storage as part of a major modernization and restack of this 50 year-old power house building which originally housed a major coal-fired steam plant, an electrical generating facility, shops, labs, collections and offices. The building was renovated to support the Exhibition Departments, Design and Exhibit shops, the Facilities Management Department and shops, the Mammology Department osteoprep labs and collections and the new central refrigeration plant.

The Osteology Lab, a specimen, anatomy and conservation laboratory, is used by many of The Museum’s research departments. Throughout the lab renovation, JBA was sensitive to the Museum’s operational and research needs. 

New compact storage and workspaces were created for whalebones, skins and skeletons collections. Less frequently accessed collections were moved to the lower level of the building and compact storage systems were utilized to maximize storage space. New mechanical equipment, including a custom maceration tank, de-greaser and a freezer room for temperature-sensitive collections, was also incorporated into the laboratory’s design.