Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses (Hermann-Grima/Gallier Historic Houses)

The Woman's Exchange will improve the preservation of the c. 1831 Hermann-Grima House and the collections within it by replacing the existing window-mounted heating and air conditioning units, which have outlived their functional service life. A 2014 environmental survey identified collections vulnerabilities to chemical, mechanical and physical damage from light, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation; particulates and gaseous pollutants; elevated and fluctuating relative humidity and temperature; and insect, vertebrate, and microbiological pests. Based on the recommendations of an interdisciplinary team of specialists and the analysis and interpretation of climate data, the museum will install a dehumidification system independent of a cooling system and a generator in order to provide power during electrical outages; and replace the HVAC system. The project will significantly improve the interior environment of the Hermann-Grima House and result in improved care and conservation of the collections, the building, and its architectural fabric, and it will provide a model for environmental management that will be adaptable for historic buildings in similar climates.