Project Info

Peabody Essex Museum Collections Center
Rowley, MA

Team:
Schwartz Silver Architects
Cosentini Engineering
Connolly Brothers Construction

 

Founded in 1799, the Peabody Essex Museum is the nation’s oldest continuously operating museum. As an institution with a long legacy, PEM holds a wide range of collections, including works of art featuring the region’s maritime culture, China’s Qing Dynasty, American art, a renowned library, and 22 historic buildings. After assessing how it could more fully exhibit and utilize its vast collection and facilities, PEM identified the need for an offsite storage facility.

The Collections Center project budget was a $16M project which included the purchase and renovation of a 120,000-sf existing building. The existing building was purchased by PEM and the interior fit out was designed by Schwartz Silver Architects Inc. and Cosentini Engineers.

The project services commenced with feasibility study analysis of the various options for building new buildings or purchasing existing buildings. Following the conclusion of these analysis efforts a building search was conducted along with the appropriate environmental site analysis once the site search was narrowed to a specific location. Following the purchase of the building, fit plans were developed by the architect to evaluate the best use of the space. Asner provided oversight and project management services for all activities including final construction documents, construction oversight and move coordination.