Worcester Art Museum Library Relocation

The Higgins Education Wing (HEW) is a 45,000-square-foot, Brutalist-style educational and office building that is part of the Worcester Art Museum campus. This project called for the relocation of the museums internal library used for research by the museum staff and community into an existing two level space currently used as a sculpture studio. The lower level is below grade and the upper level is currently a partial floor mezzanine open to the floor below. The lower level is to contain high-density shelving units and the upper level office space, viewing area and possible meeting space.

FieLDworkshop is working with the museum to vet options for vertically circulating the materials between the upper and lower levels, looking at various space and cost implications as well as move-in logistics. The potential for extending the floor of the upper level mezzanine is also being explored, in coordination with a structural engineer, to allow for a meeting space and additional programing. Coordination of the envelope and HVAC design is also being performed to meet the climate requirements for the library documents.