Photography © David Ulmer

With an opportunity to enhance the study and care of its works on paper, the Saint Louis Art Museum retained the firm to assess the collections of the Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs; to quantify the amount of space necessary for the proper storage and study of the collections; and to design a new study and storage space in an underutilized portion of its historic Cass Gilbert building. The new 2,000 SF Print Study Room and a large portion of the collections storage are housed in a “pavilion” at the roof level of the museum. The new Print Study Room takes its theme from the large semi-circular copper-clad window which dominates the space. Direct sunlight is controlled by motorized shades and scrims. Custom designed print easels forming the side walls of the study room accommodate the display of several sizes of matted and framed works with fold-out ledges. Custom designed, compact, mobile storage furniture houses the collections in an adjacent room. The firm is presently working with the Museum on an assessment of its general collections storage areas.