Subcommittee reviews static exhibit plans for vaults, niches and vitrines

Designers presented static exhibit layouts for the garden level, including the governor’s niche, the caretaker’s niche, architectural vitrines and a stage vault built around an existing Mosler vault. The project team said artifact locations and associated panel text have been finalized and will be uploaded to the file-stage review system.

Nigel described the stage vault and the central cabinet that will display artifacts with two wings that echo period safes. He walked the committee through planned finishes — wallpaper, wood wrapping on an existing column, drapery and period framing — and said graphic panels introducing each space will be submitted to the subcommittee for sign-off. Nigel said some items are still in sample-selection stages, but that content and artifact labels for the vitrines have been written and positioned.

The caretaker’s niche and other half-wall panels on the garden level will be reviewed together, the presenters said. The design team said the south stairwell and student-path graphics are intended to create an arrival sequence for visiting school groups and to lead students into the Civics Lab.

Designers asked the subcommittee to review the static-graphics deck that will be posted on file stage; the team said the graphics package will be available for the subcommittee’s review, with instructions on where to leave consolidated comments.