Challenge The North Carolina Museum of Art was experiencing wide fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels, with swings of 30 percent humidity in the winter and up to 60 percent in the summer. What might have been a mere annoyance for another type of facility was a liability for the museum. Variations in climate could cause canvases to expand and contract, leading to premature aging, and hinder the museum’s ability to host national traveling art exhibits with strict environmental requirements. Although facility managers knew the state’s budget did not afford the funds needed for system improvements, they also knew that without upgrades, the museum could potentially be an “artificial aging chamber” for its works of art. Besides preserving its treasures, the museum’s objectives includ

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