The copper cladding that makes the new de Young so distinctive, also made the technology design within more challenging. Specifically, copper interferes with the wireless coverage for the museum’s internal LAN.

Shen Milsom & Wilke’s solution was to add infrastructure—there are 120 wireless access points within the building, about 50 percent more than would otherwise be needed. One advantage: the copper contains the wireless signal so it is harder to access unlawfully from the outside.

Integrating technology into a highly finished space like the de Young poses its own challenges. No one wants to look at outlets and floorboxes. To meet aesthetic requirements, Shen Milsom & Wilke concealed outlets in specially designed wall pockets. Wireless access points were placed in the ceiling and display vitrines.

© Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums
Mark Darley, Photographer

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