Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, MAC Lab Renovation & Addition

Set along the Patuxent River within Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab) safeguards more than eight million artifacts spanning over 9,000 years of human history. Completed in 2026, this renovation and expansion strengthens the laboratory’s ability to support research, conservation, and public interpretation while preparing the facility for continued growth in collections.

Building on a Legacy of Stewardship

Working in collaboration with architect Marshall Craft Associates, Mueller designed new systems to modernize the 30,000-square-foot laboratory and engineered a 4,692-square-foot addition focused on expanding collections storage. The project reimagines storage wings with reconfigured compact shelving, increased capacity, and improved workflows to support the careful movement and long-term preservation of artifacts. A new loading dock, an artifact-sized elevator, and a maintenance catwalk enhance operational efficiency while preserving the character of the existing facility.

Advancing Environmental Control for Conservation

Precise temperature and humidity control are critical to protecting sensitive collections. The project replaced aging air-handling equipment, adds a dedicated 100% outdoor-air unit serving treatment spaces, and reconfigures duct distribution to improve zoning and environmental stability. Existing air-handling units were selectively upgraded with new components to extend service life and improve efficiency, while avoiding major structural disruptions.

Strengthening Infrastructure for Reliability and Growth

Mechanical and electrical upgrades include adding a second 350-ton air-cooled chiller to provide redundancy and support increased loads, a new chiller dedicated to conservation processes, and modernizing building automation systems for improved monitoring and maintenance flexibility. Supporting improvements include replacing sprinkler heads, upgrading electrical systems, and transitioning from underground to above-ground storage tanks.

Supporting Research, Collaboration, and Safe Handling

Programmatic updates include a relocated isolation room designed to protect collections from contamination and modifications to the field processing area to accommodate expanded staff and volunteer activities. Together, these improvements ensure the MAC Lab continues to serve as a leading resource for archaeological conservation and education in Maryland.