The Goode Works on Paper Center is a transformative 2,100-square-foot interior renovation located within the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia. Completed in Fall 2024, the center is designed to enhance public access to one of the museum’s most significant assets: its works on paper collection. Comprising nearly 10,000 drawings, photographs, and prints — roughly one-third of the museum’s total holdings — this previously hidden trove now has a permanent, visible home designed to support scholarship, conservation, and public engagement.
Located adjacent to the McKinnon Contemporary Galleries, the center serves as a threshold between back-of-house operations and public experience. Visitors enter a welcoming study area with movable tables, tiered casework for display, and views into the museum. A custom barn door with glass panels divides this space from the archival zone, promoting visibility without compromising security. Within the archival space, rows of flat file storage support the breadth of the collection, while a mezzanine level provides additional conservation workspace and vertical storage. A custom wood staircase and integrated dumbwaiter maximize efficiency, allowing curators and conservators to work across levels with ease.
The design concept emphasizes transparency, flexibility, and stewardship. Every square foot was considered for utility — casework tucks beneath structural beams, and triangular voids were transformed into productive storage zones. White ceilings and walls provide a clean backdrop for conservation work, while warm wood finishes and color accents in the furniture introduce a sense of hospitality. Materials were selected for archival compatibility, ease of maintenance, and visual clarity, supporting both the practical and symbolic goals of the project.
Furniture and display systems were designed to be modular and reconfigurable, allowing the center to shift between classroom mode, study appointments, and informal viewing. The lighting strategy ensures preservation standards while supporting a bright, open atmosphere. ADA compliance and safety were addressed throughout, particularly in circulation and stair design.
The project represents a meaningful expansion of the museum’s public-facing mission. Visitors, artists, and scholars can now access and interact with a cornerstone of the Chrysler’s collection in a setting that feels both functional and welcoming. By placing conservation work in visible proximity to public areas, the space fosters transparency in collections care and brings new energy to the museum’s educational programming.
This renovation demonstrates the transformative power of interior design — not only to improve function and aesthetics, but to rewrite how institutions connect with their audiences. The Goode Works on Paper Center ensures that the museum’s extraordinary collection is no longer hidden, but accessible, celebrated, and ready to inspire future generations.
