Smithsonian Numismatics Gallery

A new gallery within the United States’ most prestigious museum. 360 was employed as a freelancer by a Leicester museum design studio to develop and refine the interiors package. The drawings are annotated in American English, dimensioned in imperial with U.S. material references. Construction had to meet U.S. building & disabled access standards, and comply with the museum’s highly exacting design manual.

 

With literally priceless objects on display security was of paramount importance, to to be achieved unobtrusively while providing an excellent visitor experience. This resulted in an exceptionally complex drawing package, yet the final results are clean and cohesive.

 

The display cases are glazed with low-iron laminated armoured glass up to 1″ thick (requiring hinges rated to 500kg), with cabintry cased in 3mm E.P.C. steel over a ZF-MDF carcass. LED fibre-optics were specified to minimise heat build up & negate UV damage within the display, with humidity control and alarmed access throughout. Many of the smaller coins were not only valuable but also extremely fragile, so vibration damping was required as an integral part of the design