Getty Images
Photography Production & Conservation Facility
A specialist facility for the production, conservation and storage of sensitive photographic materials.
The scheme involved fitting out a 15 metre high warehouse building with photographic production space and a two-tier racking installation. The facility was designed to provide an archive environment appropriate for the production, conservation and long-term storage of sensitive photographic materials, with the racking installation providing ground and first floor storage levels accessed by open fire escape staircases.
Office and photographic production facilities were provided over two levels, separated from the archive area by fire-resistant partitioning. The production spaces included digital and drum scanning rooms, photographic and negative conservation areas, dark rooms, wet and dry photographic finishing suites and print rooms. Each space required clean room conditions and was constructed accordingly, with dimmable lighting, emergency lighting, air conditioning, temperature control and dedicated fire detection.
Detailed design, project management and cost control across all disciplines.
Osborn Associates provided a full multi-disciplinary service covering detailed design, project management, cost control and site management. The company produced fully coordinated designs for the racking system, lighting and small power, water mist fire protection, fire detection, plumbing, air conditioning and ventilation.
Beyond design, the company managed the entire construction process including contractor appointments and approvals, construction sequencing, site safety, delivery logistics and building regulations compliance. Full cost management and client reporting were provided throughout, ensuring the project was delivered under budget.
Water mist system designed from fire test data proven at the Bodleian Library.
The archive racking installation required a specialist fire protection approach. The water mist system was designed based on fire test information gathered from the design of a similar system at the new Bodleian Library at Oxford University, ensuring the suppression solution was proven and appropriate for the protection of irreplaceable photographic archives.
The archive area was also provided with energy-efficient lighting control, emergency lighting, ventilation and humidity control - all carefully integrated with the fire detection and suppression systems to create a cohesive environmental and safety package for the stored materials.
Delivering a specialist environment on a live site within a six-month programme.
The project demanded the creation of highly controlled environments - clean rooms, temperature-regulated archive spaces, darkrooms - within an existing warehouse building, all delivered within a six-month design and installation programme with just four months on site.
Working on a live site while maintaining a secure environment for Getty's existing operations added further complexity. The multi-level construction environment required careful safety management throughout. The scheme was completed successfully, on programme and under budget, with access for Getty's local business team achieved to schedule.
