At the start of the year, Ideum was awarded a project to build two larger-than-life exhibit cases for the New Mexico History Museum. This project with a quick turn-around included two artifact display cases that are larger than any we've built before. Excited to expand our fabrication skillset and honored by the trust instilled in us by the New Mexico History Museum we crafted all elements of the museum’s newest display and we are incredibly proud of the results.
The exhibit cases are part of “The New Mexico Showcase.” The cabinets display “Curious Contraptions and Collectible Curiosities” that take us back to an older way of doing things.
“These everyday objects hold fragments of the past. While their exact history and purpose might remain elusive, each one offers a glimpse into the lives and adventures of New Mexicans.” - New Mexico History Museum
With the New Mexico History Museum and Chiodo Design providing the preliminary design, Ideum engineered and detailed the two cabinets for fabrication. Each cabinet measures approximately 10 feet tall, 14 feet wide, and 4 feet deep. Each cabinet weighs about a ton, including 800 pounds of tactically hinged 10mm glass panels.
In addition to their size, these cabinets are unique in their seamless design to match the architecture of the gallery where they will be installed, long-term. The cases accommodate and hide a large structural beam and provide hinged doors that give curators easy access to the cabinets from the front. This ease of access supports a dynamic program of regularly rotated artifacts that the Museum’s curators can easily customize.
Ideum was responsible for sourcing all the materials for the cabinets. The frames of the cabinets are built out of 3-inch square welded steel tubing. The glazing assembly was sourced from Germany through our partner Case[werks]. The interior components of the cabinets were constructed using materials and finishes that meet strict conservation standards in order to protect sensitive objects and artifacts. The cabinets have fans that create a positive pressure environment around the artifacts, reducing potential dust, and temperature monitoring equipment within the cases, all to ensure the longevity and care of the objects on display.
These cabinets were designed to be fully self-supported with an uninterrupted curtain of glass. They do not rely on bolts to the floor or wall and also do not have a center beam supporting the weight of the glass. Because of their extreme size, the cabinets had to be built in a modular format to be able to transport and install them. Each cabinet was assembled with two structural steel frames that were joined together on-site. Interior and exterior panels and glass were then installed on location elegantly dressing the cabinets to match the gallery.
Ideum also assisted the New Mexico History Museum with the preparation of the space for the cabinets. We coordinated a team of contractors to remove the prior exhibit, repair and paint the walls, update electrical, and install new window shades. Besides the construction of the cabinets, Ideum also designed and installed graphics to interpret and enhance the cabinets’ artifacts. Items selected for display were carefully handled and installed by Ideum’s master mount-making contractor, Paul Singdahlsen.
One of our goals as a company is to constantly evolve and expand our skillsets. We are driven to accomplish a wide range of projects we get asked to do by our clients, even if it’s something we haven’t done before, like these large-scale exhibit cases. We are excited to add this project to our fabrication portfolio, joining other projects that we have fabricated such as these microscope stations for the San Diego Zoo, an interactive model of Ebbets Field for the Jackie Robinson Museum, and a one-of-a-kind 3D model for the Dueling Dinosaurs Exhibit in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for this exhibit will be on August 9th, 2024, but the exhibit is already open to the public.
"New Mexico Showcase" installation, used with permission from the New Mexico History Museum/Department of Cultural Affairs.
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