After the completion of the renovation of the research laboratories of the Center for Conservation and Preservation (CCAP), planning started for the construction of CCAP’s conservation space which will be shared by all of Yale’s collections. An area of approximately 14,000 square feet, immediately adjacent to CCAP’s research laboratories, will be developed. This area formerly held wash rooms for staff working in the packing area of Bayer’s production building, which is now the Collections Study Center (CSC). The first step was to demolish the washrooms, before the plans were finalized in case unexpected problems were concealed behind walls and false ceilings. Demolition was completed by early September. Apart from some pipework requiring rerouting, no unexpected problems were found. Construction work is scheduled to begin in January 2014 and will be completed before the end of the year. The conservation space will consist of one large open room where all conservators will work together, alongside CCAP’s research scientists on a wide range of objects, including taxidermy specimens, through Roman sculpture and modern paintings to works on paper and textiles, encouraging the sharing and promotion of new ideas and approaches to treatment. The space will also contain a digital x-ray facility, a high ventilation room, a structural workroom and fine woodworking room, and clean spaces for the matting and framing of works on paper. There will also be offices and workstations for staff and visiting fellows and students.
