Closure and Construction Updates

Arizona State Museum's North Building (its exhibits and public programs building) was closed to the public on August 1, 2024 so that it could undergo extensive maintenance and upgrades to the electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC, fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and windows. The closure came after more than a year and a half of planning with teams from the University of Arizona’s Facilities Management, Planning, Design, and Construction, and Fire Safety and Maintenance. In preparation, museum personnel had begun shifting collections and work stations in order to be out of the way of maintenance crews. Exhibits were deinstalled and galleries were converted into alternative collections storage spaces.

Maintenance work had begun in August and continued in September, but it came to a halt after the fall 2024 meeting of the Arizona Board of Regents, at which they voted to deauthorize funding and tabled the issue indefinitely. There is currently no plan to resume the $80M project.

There is currently no plan to reopen ASM’s North Building (its exhibits and public programs building).

We are told by University of Arizona administrators that they are working to formulate a plan to move ASM people, collections, and public programs to alternate spaces. There are currently no details to share, nor is there a timeline.

No. In light of the university’s ongoing financial crisis, compounded by federal funding uncertainties, we are told that ASM’s deferred-maintenance plan will not be discussed nor move forward anytime soon.

While the physical doors of ASM North are closed, we are partnering with sister institutions, businesses, and cultural festivals around Tucson and southern Arizona to offer in-person exhibits, pop-up exhibits, free talks, and hands-on classes. This is also a great way for us to expand our visibility and reach around our region. 

We are also continuing to create new online exhibits, hybrid programs, virtual programs, and lawn sales, in addition to continuing with our popular master classes and travel tours.

Visit our calendar of events to see what’s coming up: https://statemuseum.arizona.edu/events

Online shopping can be accessed here: https://statemuseum.arizona.edu/shop

The permanent exhibits have largely been deinstalled and most objects have been returned to the safety of storage microclimates. Some objects remain in exhibit cases in the exhibit galleries and this is because it is the safest environment for them for the time being.

Temporary and permanent exhibit gallery spaces have been converted into rotating collections storage spaces. One large area has been converted into private and secure space for repatriation processing.  

The disruption will, at different times, either impede or completely prevent our ability to provide access to some collections for institutional loans or research purposes. We welcome inquiries and will happily consider each one on a case-by-case basis, but we regret that we may not be as accessible as we would like to be. 

https://statemuseum.arizona.edu/collections/access-collections

ASM research faculty and staff are unaffected by the closure. Regular research and teaching activities continue. Interns, graduate students, and collections volunteers continue normal activities.

ASM faculty and staff in charge of ASM’s Mandated Programs are unaffected by the closure. Regular activities continue.

ASM faculty and staff in charge of ASM’s conservation laboratory are unaffected by the closure. Regular teaching, research, and collections-care activities continue.

ASM faculty and staff in charge of ASM’s repatriation efforts and NAGPRA compliance are unaffected by the closure. Regular activities continue. 

Track our progress here: https://statemuseum.arizona.edu/research/repatriation-nagpra

Volunteer opportunities are continuing in Research, Collections, and Conservation. Volunteers in Visitor Services and Public Programs work on an on-call basis as supervisors find alternative but equally important roles for them to fill.

ASM’s membership program is still in effect. We are so, so grateful to our members for sticking with us during this time of disruption and uncertainty.

While free admission and guest passes are moot for the time being, ASM members continue to receive the following:

• Invitations to events and programs held offsite during the closure.
• Notifications of off-site, in-person exhibits that can be visited.
• Discounts on paid programs, master classes, and travel tours.
• Discounts in the online museum store.
• A monthly newsletter, which includes information about events, classes, travel tours, and updates about the closure.
• Eligibility for discounted Smithsonian Institution membership.
• The satisfaction of supporting ASM’s multi-faceted mission and its dedicated people.

Not a member? Join today: https://statemuseum.arizona.edu/membership

ASM's South Building is in full operation. It houses the majority of ASM's Mandated Programs offices: the archaeological repository, the archaeological permits office, and the archaeological records office. In addition, there are research laboratories and collections storage spaces in ASM South. It is a secure building, accessible only by appointment to conduct business with one of the offices. There are no public programs or exhibits in that building as of the year 2000. 

Completion of the photo archive multi-climate suite is targeted for June 30, 2025. That’s good news mixed with bad news. The good news is that we will finally have a 21^st century, state-of-the-art storage facility befitting the importance and irreplaceability of our photo collections. The bad news is, none of it can go “online” until it can be tied into the building’s electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and fire suppression systems, which are failing and in need of replacement. For example, the building's current electrical system is so antiquated, it will not bear the load needed to operate the new walk-in freezers or refrigerators. In fact, exterior sources of electricity will be required in order to just turn them on, in an effort to ensure they are operational, which is required for warranty purposes.

Planning for the Photo Archive Renovation Project began in 2014. Fundraising begin in 2017. Construction began in early 2024, after many postponements and delays, in order to dovetail with the North Building's larger infrastructure renovation plans, which are not indefinitely halted. 

The success we have had in creating microclimates within the North Building in order to better the storage conditions for the pottery, perishables, and now, photo archives, is due to federal grants and private support.