Professional Services
CARM2 (Stage 2 CAVAL Repository)
| Official Opening |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
In 1996, CAVAL constructed the first high-density, environmentally controlled library storage facility in Bundoora, Victoria, the CAVAL Archival and Research Materials Centre (CARM). This facility now holds nearly 1 million volumes of low-use print materials contributed by member libraries. Constant temperature and humidity controls ensure that material is preserved in ideal environmental storage conditions. The items have been contributed by the original libraries to CAVAL for long-term shared ownership and maintenance.
CARM2, completed in October 2010, is the second stage archive facility. It is adjacent to the existing CARM facility in order to take advantage of the available staffing and facilities management services; including collection management, deposit and retrieval services, and on-site digitisation and document delivery services.
CAVAL engaged Coffey Projects to manage the project and the architects are H20.
CAVAL has already contracted with some other agencies to provide specialised fit-out to accommodate collections such as museum artefacts and pictures on a more commercial basis to supplement the expected income from the facility.
The AUD14 million library project will treble the storage capacity of CAVAL's existing facility to over 32,000 linear metres of medium and high density shelf space. The expanded facility is capable of holding more 3 million volumes in typical library shelving configuration, more than any university library in Australia.
Monash University, the University of Melbourne and RMIT University have together contributed AUD12 million towards the construction and in exchange they have licensed access to reserved shelf space for 30 years. The remaining space will be used to extend the shared collection for member libraries and for the leasing of space to a range of libraries, art galleries, museums and archives.
The expanded facility will feature tight environmental controls to ensure the long-term preservation of stored materials. The air inside the vault will be maintained at 18°C (±2°C), with humidity held steady at 50% (± 5%). According to project architect, Mark O’Dwyer of H2o Architects, the vault is designed to maintain its design temperature and humidity for a minimum of 24 hours in the event of a total loss of power.
“To achieve that, we have designed what is essentially a highly insulated box that doesn’t leak. The building has extra-thick insulation in the walls and roof and there is even insulation to go beneath the concrete slab. The whole building has been pressure-test to pinpoint leaks,” he said.
Due to the need for long-term storage, the facility has a design life of 40-50 years, over three times that of many commercial buildings being built today.
La Trobe University continues to support CAVAL through its subsidised rental of land for the CARM facility.
O’Dwyer says the building’s exterior feature a translucent facade in acrylic and metal panels that softens the appearance of the building and helps it to blend into its leafy setting at Bundoora.