Building Expansion, Department Renovation, Collections Storage and Compact Storage

The Ichthyology Department is located within the original Museum Heating and Lighting Plant Building, constructed in 1935, and a smaller southern addition built in 1965. This renovation included construction of a new first floor mezzanine in the older structure, and complete renovation of all floors of both structures.

The first floor of the original structure was renovated to include private staff offices, a collections processing laboratory, a skeletal processing laboratory and accessible restrooms with showers. A materials lift was installed to allow the movement of collections storage cabinets between the two floors.

The first floor mezzanine incorporates an aquarium room, a large conference/classroom, staff computer room, additional private staff offices, and an open staircase. The second floor contains reception & administrative offices with a compact shelving system to house the departmental library; curatorial offices & laboratories; and additional private staff offices.

New historically accurate windows were installed on the west facade, with additional windows installed on the second floor in locations where research labs had previously been located and had been removed during past renovations of the building. A new mechanical system was installed throughout the department, replacing individual window air conditioning units. The new collections storage room incorporated compact storage systems to enable collection's expansion commensurate with the Department's increased research capability.