james center

Following the successful renovation of their main building, the Cape Ann Museum developed land nearby to create a new curatorial center and flexible art pavilion. The resulting Janet & William Ellery James Center anchors the museum’s newly established satellite campus, the Cape Ann Museum Green.

The 12,000 SF James Center addresses the museum’s critical need for expanded collections and archival storage. The James Center also includes a 2,500 SF flexible exhibition and community programming space that greatly enhances the Museum’s ability to reach new audiences. The building is designed to complement the three historic structures on the site; all buildings on the property are connected by open green space that is accessible by the public for year-round enjoyment. The new gallery opens directly to a porch and patio that support events and gatherings in favorable weather. In the future, the Museum intends to enhance the campus as a sculpture park.

The James Center addressed the need for additional & improved storage and handling of the museum’s artifacts. The building adds 6,700 SF of storage, primarily in compact ranges, but also in large painting racks, wide-span shelving, and textile racks. There is a dedicated loading dock (a feature that was not feasible at the Museum’s downtown location), as well as an isolation area for proper quarantine of incoming items, and a gracious preparation area for efficient and safe collection handling. The new administrative workroom features a picture window into the storage area.