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National Audio Visual Conservation Center

Culpeper, Virginia

This former Federal Reserve Vault is now home to the world's largest collection of moving images and sound recordings.  The 415,000 square foot facility housed by three buildings, was purchased by the Packard Humanities Foundation, rebuilt and donated to the Library of Congress.   This will be the first centralized facility in America especially planned and designed for the acquisition, cataloging and storage of preservation of the nation's heritage collection of moving images and recorded sounds.  At 45 acres, it is expected to be the largest facility of its kind and includes state-of-the-art technology.

Working with SmithGroup and BAR Architects, HLB's scope of work included exterior site lighting, lighting for all public spaces, offices, audio-visual and electronic conservation labs, conference rooms, screening and listening rooms, and custom fixture design collaboration of open office pendants and the chandeliers and wall sconces for the Theater. We designed a state-of-the-art building-wide architectural lighting controls system for the AV and electronic conservation labs as well as for the meeting and theater spaces. Lighting mock-ups for the custom light fixtures with close collaboration between us, the design team, Owner and light fixture manufacturer were also included in our scope.