Yale Peabody Museum

The museum & the collection

The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, founded in 1866, is one of the oldest and most prolific university natural history museums in the world. Its collection of 14 million specimens and objects, including fossils, meteorites, and anthropological artifacts, tells the story of our earth, its life history, and cultures. Iconic items include the first Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops specimens ever discovered, as well as the 110-foot-long (34 m) paleontological fresco “The Age of Reptiles” painted by Rudolph Zallinger, depicting over 300 million years of evolution.

In 2020, the Peabody Museum began its first comprehensive renovation in 90 years, completely redesigning all the galleries. The goal was to expand teaching and research opportunities for students while curating more accessible exhibitions and presenting new collections. After four years, the Museum reopened on March 26th, 2024, doubling its exhibition space to 40,000 square feet over three floors. The renovation created bright, easy-to-navigate galleries dedicated to learning, teaching, cutting-edge research, and socializing.

The assignment & the challenges

Meyvaert was selected by Maltbie to develop, produce, and install 162 new showcases for this ambitious project, including 22 Meyvaert modular cases.

We also demounted and reinstalled 26 cases we had provided in 2019 for the “Ancient Mesopotamia Speaks” exhibition showcasing the Babylonian Art Collection. These 26 cases, initially designed in a modular way for future reconfiguration, have also been totally enhanced to seamlessly fit in their new permanent environment.

All showcases were designed for easy access, facilitating both educational and research activities, as well as future exhibit rotations. We focused on ensuring the functionality of the showcases for users and accommodating the specific types of objects they would contain. Given the delicate nature of the collection, including organic materials, we adhered to the highest conservation standards. Additionally, the museum’s collection included several very large objects that required a specialized approach.

Challenges included design adjustments following prototype reviews and delays in the building’s construction. Consequently, not all galleries were ready for the showcases’ installation as originally scheduled, requiring us to adapt and strategize effectively.

The solutions & the result

There were no unforeseen technical challenges, and the project maintained low complexity thanks to our in-house Meyvaert Solutions. Here are some of the main highlights:

To address design and scope changes, we chose glass over acrylic to shorten lead times and maintain in-house quality control. This choice provided superior optical clarity, cost savings, and enhanced durability. Additionally, we proposed conducting the prototype review in Belgium to streamline the process and keep the project on track.

We also custom-made a back support for a 400-kg artifact –a cyclotron vacuum chamber– in close collaboration with the museum team to allow for secure and smooth installation.

In terms of installation, it was executed in three phases, allowing us to adapt to the galleries’ revised delivery schedule seamlessly. This phased approach ensured that each section received the attention it deserved, maintaining the integrity and quality of the installation despite unforeseen challenges.

Coordination for multiple large objects was necessary, with several case doors installed after the objects were in place. The rest of the casework was designed to account for building entry point limitations.

Our flexible yet efficient approach allowed for the successful delivery of the revised scope on time and on budget. This was achieved through our skilled and experienced project team’s solution-driven, communicative, and collaborative mindset.

This project is a proud addition to our portfolio, highlighting our commitment to bringing the Museum’s rich collections to the public and offering a chance for everyone to better understand the history of the earth, its life, and its cultures.