SP0333: Reuse, Redevelopment and Redesign of Maude Abbott Medical Museum

This project focuses on the adaptive reuse of a historical heritage architectural element that has lost its initial function. The SAD has 19 fire hose stations that originally housed hoses, then extinguishers. They were left empty about 20 years ago after the installation of ceiling sprinkler systems. In October 2019, the MAMM was awarded funds from the SPF (SP0229). The main results of this project were: (1) a Climate & Sustainability Action Plan to model for the sustainable management of our heritage collection; and (2) increased outreach activities/teaching via use of specimen displays. As part of this project, a prototype display was created in one of the stations (Appendix I and II).

Following an assessment of the remaining stations based on location and visibility, this project proposes to repurpose 14 to display: (1) artifacts or anatomical specimens (mostly bones) that illustrate normal anatomy; and (2) corresponding images from well-known anatomical atlas and texts (Appendix III). The texts and artifacts are intimately related to the initial function of the SAD as a place for medical teaching. The overriding theme of the displays is the Delphic aphorism “Nosce Te Ipsum” (“know thyself”), oft-quoted in Renaissance texts of anatomy. Each display will address a specific environmental and/or sociocultural issue associated with health, death and the body, such as cremation, embalming, burial and land use, contagion and spread of disease, and environmental agents associated with health risks (e.g. asbestos, radon, water supply, etc.). The large auditoriums in the SAD bring in students from many faculties, including Medicine, Dentistry, Arts, Science, and Engineering, who will see the displays as they go to and from class (the impact will be evaluated by tracking QR codes on the displays and number of guided tour visitors).

SPF funding will be used to offset the cost related to the installation of new clear glass windows, design (including graphic elements), and purchase of stands and materials needed to support the artifacts as well as the installation. We will hire an outside graphic designer to complete this work. MAMM staff and volunteers will research the material, select artifacts and images, prepare texts and prepare the stations for the installation. The material displayed does not have any degradation issues, such as susceptibility to atmospheric pollutants, so sealing and temperature/humidity controls are not needed. All approvals for repurposing the stations have been received. The project could be completed by Fall 2023 in one phase.