Why do we need this building?
For many years, the collections of the museum have been stored in structures that do not meet current museum standards. MNA’s collections have been stored in uninsulated 1950s era cinder block buildings with inadequate heating systems, no cooling systems or humidity control, no fire suppression systems, and limited means to control insect pests. These conditions put MNA’s collections at risk. Over the past twenty years a variety of museum conservation experts have looked at our collections storage circumstances and have recommended the construction of new collection facilities. The most recent report, based on a 2004 National Park Service site visit, stated:

“MNA is failing to meet professional standards, allowing the agents of deterioration to damage or destroy the collections. A new collections storage facility is needed.”

What will be in this building?
The Easton Collection Center will house a major portion of MNA’s collections. These collections include MNA’s extensive anthropological collections (prehistoric ceramics and perishables, textiles, basketry, kachina dolls, and jewelry) and biological collections (herbarium specimens, entomological collections, and zoological specimens). It will also house art and archival collections.

How big is this building?

• 17,283 square feet
• Collections storage area: 13,746 square feet
• Office and support area: 3,357 square feet

Who will work here?
Much of the MNA Collections Department will work here. This includes the Collections Manager, the Registrar, and other members of the Collections staff and interns.

What are the MNA Collections?
The MNA collections are the product of 80+ years of museum research and collections activity. These collections have been built to support research, to document the natural and cultural history of the Colorado Plateau, to house objects of esthetic beauty, and for public education. MNA stores its own collections and serves as a repository for federal and tribal collections. MNA houses and cares for collections for the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation, among others.

Who designed the building? What inspired the design?
The building was designed by architect James A. Roberts of Roberts|Jones Associates of Phoenix, AZ. The building design was influenced by a variety of factors and was driven by the functional requirements of the building such as the environmental conditions needed to properly store collections, the needs of the Collections Department, and the “flow” of collections through the building. The building was also designed for sustainability, with features to conserve energy and promote conservation of resources. A Native American Advisory Committee made key recommendations regarding the design, including the east facing orientation of the entrance, connection to the San Francisco Peaks, and use of local and natural materials. Finally, the design was the result of the experience and inspiration of the architect, Jim Roberts.

Will it be open to the public?
It will be open on a limited basis. The Easton Collection Center is primarily a collections repository, not an exhibit building. It will not be open on a walk-in basis. However, for a number of years, the MNA Collections Department has offered collections tours for the public. These tours have been limited because the collections facilities have not been set up for tours, with narrow and cramped corridors and inaccessibility for people with disabilities. The Easton Collection Center has been designed to accommodate tours, which will permit an expanded tour program. This will enable MNA to share information about collections, the collections role of the museum, and the building’s “green” features with the public. Initially, collections tours will be limited during the “move in” period, so that the collections staff can effectively complete the move.

What local materials were used in construction?
Much of the material in the building was manufactured locally and regionally. Cement, steel, and other materials came from regional sources where possible. The stone front of the building is made of Coconino Sandstone from Ash Fork, Arizona and all the wood is recycled trestle wood (Douglas fir), salvaged from the Great Salt Lake, Utah.

What is LEED certification?
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a program of the US Green Building Council, a national nonprofit organization that promotes “green” building technologies. LEED certification rates the environmental quality of buildings in a variety of categories. These categories include: Sustainable Sites; Water Efficiency; Energy and Atmosphere; Materials and Resources; Indoor Air Quality; and Innovative and Design Process. The rating program is rigorous and demands extensive documentation. LEED levels include LEED Basic, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, and LEED Platinum. Ratings are determined only after buildings are completed and operational. Our analysis indicates that we should achieve 54 LEED points, a Platinum rating.

Have other museums done this?
Many museums are now developing sustainable buildings. For example, the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco recently received a LEED Platinum rating for its new museum building. However, we believe the Easton Collection Center will be among the most advanced and sustainable of collections repositories worldwide and will set a new standard for museum collections facilities.

Why does this building have a “living roof” and how does it work?
MNA’s living roof, planted with native vegetation (grasses and wildflowers), covers the entire main building area except the mechanical room and elevator shaft. Living roofs confer many benefits to a building. They significantly reduce temperature extremes at the roof surface, reducing energy consumption and extending the life of the roofing membrane. This helps maintain a stable temperature within the building. Absorption of precipitation by the roof also effectively eliminates storm water runoff. Any excess water draining from the living roof will be collected in a 22,000-gallon rain/snow water harvesting cistern system and recirculated back to the roof's irrigation system. Living roofs celebrate and promote awareness of regional biodiversity. The roof consists of steel decking covered with panels of DensDeck ©, a mold and moisture resistant and noncombustible material. The DensDeck is covered with a layer of rigid foam insulation, a drainage mat, a root barrier, six inches of soil, a subsurface irrigation system, and 5500 coconut fiber trays filled with native soil, seeds, and seedlings.

How much did the building cost?

• Building construction cost: $5,440,516
• Architectural/engineering fees: $672,018
• Living roof: $55,000
• Cabinetry: $910,350
• Total: $7,077,884

Funding for steel collections storage cabinetry, equipment, and move coordination has come from four major grants totaling approximately $1,047,235: a 2009 Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant for botany and entomology cabinetry, a 2008 IMLS grant for textile and basket cabinetry, a 2007 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant for a compactor track system, anthropology cabinetry, and move coordination, and a 2006 Save America’s Treasures grant for archaeology cabinetry.

How will it support research and public education?
The building supports research and education in several ways. It preserves valuable collections for future study and research projects. It documents the natural and cultural diversity of the Colorado Plateau. It makes collections more accessible to researchers and for exhibits. It provides a study space for researchers to work with collections.

How much solar is captured?
Solar energy is captured in several ways. There are 75 photovoltaic solar panels located on the roof of the building that will produce 23,000 kWh of electricity annually. It is estimated that it will offset at least 20% of the energy cost of the building. In addition, the building is fitted with 17 Solatube®-type skylights that bring UV filtered sunlight into the building to reduce electrical lighting demand.

How efficient is the building?
It is very efficient. Just how efficient will be determined as the building operates. Extensive energy modeling was done during the design phase to reduce energy demand.

What does the floor design symbolize?
The floor design is not designed to replicate any single piece of native iconography. However, it does contain color combinations used by several Colorado Plateau tribes to denote directional colors. The Navajo directional colors are black, north; white, east; blue south; and yellow, west. The Hopi and Zuni colors are yellow, northwest; white, northeast; red, southeast and blue, southwest.

How long will the move take?
The move will take approximately two years. Rehousing of collections will be an ongoing process for years to come. Great care will be taken moving the collections to ensure that each piece is moved safely and located in the proper place. Each piece will be inspected and carefully packed before transfer to the new building. For delicate pieces such as katsina dolls, new storage mounts will be made.