Working with design professionals: preventive conservators as problem solvers, not problem creators

Abstract

The planning of a museum building is a long, involved process because of the difficulties that this building type presents for the design team. By understanding the role that preventive conservation should play, and how to make preventive conservation contributions which are valued by the design team, the job of the preventive conservator can be made more productive. Since there is no single correct building solution, and since preventive conservators do not have decision-making authority, studying a museum building to see if a preventive conservator provided good advice is not an accurate method of assessment. Preventive conservation input should be judged on whether or not the building committee was able to make informed decisions, not on whether or not the correct decision was made with regard to preservation.