"Storage Solved" in New Canadian War Museum

In May 2005, the Canadian War Museum (CWM) marked its 125th anniversary by moving into a spectacular new building in downtown Ottawa. Designed by Moriyama & Teshima Architects, the 40,860-square-meter (440,000-square-foot) facility features cutting-edge conservation laboratories and storage facilities to ensure preservation of CWM’s national treasures.

CWM’s storage challenge was immense and complex with 500,000 pieces, ranging in size from buttons and insignia to tanks and airplanes, in the various collections. Requirements for optimizing storage and preservation differed for every collection.

• Equipment Vault - The transport and artillery collection, which contains everything from tanks and vehicle components to cannons and munitions, is stored on a Mechanical Assist high-density mobile system.

• Paintings Vault - The 1,300-piece collection is stored on 90 Art Racks on a high-density mobile system that nest together on double rails for optimal compression.

• The Secure Arms Vault - Features a mobile system with storage units and racks, each customized for the type of weapon stored.

• The Arms and Armor Vault - Military models, helmets, body armor, swords and other edged weapons, both functional and ceremonial are stored in a wide-span mobile system.

• The Dress and Insignia Vault - Several mobile systems with a complex combination of doors, drawers, hanging cabinets and shelving that are fully adjustable and can be easily expanded in the future.

• Living History Vault - A cross-section of all other vaults, the mobile system had to be securable due to its small firearms collection.

Storage solutions (design, layout and installation) provided by Fawcett File & Storage Systems located in Ontario, Canada, in conjunction with Spacesaver Corporation. Architectural design by Moriyama & Teshima Architects.

Learn more about the Canadian War Museum project.

For a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to giftcertificates.com, click here. Offer expires November 30, 2005. Drawing to be held December 1, 2005.

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