art conservation Lab & studio
The building
In 2015, B.R. Howard purchased a 32,000 square foot art conservation studio and lab known as the Commonwealth Conservation Center. This was done to expand their capabilities and facilitate art conservation treatments and art storage of macro sized sculpture and objects.
Art Conservation Lab
Benefits and Features
This newly renovated art conservation studio provided more opportunities for working on the restoration of larger objects due to its capacity and 10’-18’ high ceilings. The studio’s 3 external loading docks make it simple to transport large sculptures and artifacts to and from the lab. Once objects are in the building, the large open floor plan, in-house workshop, and photography studio all act together to create a seamless workflow for projects from beginning to end. Our facility is climate controlled, equipped with a sprinkler system, and a security system with cameras.
B. R. Howard also maintains and utilizes their 53 acre farm and 7,500 square foot workshop for paint stripping, media blasting, and material and equipment storage.
B.R. Howard conservation Lab equipment:
Offices and conference room
Large macro sized artifact workspace
Conservation lab for small object conservation and analytical testing
Conservation lab for paintings and murals
Climate controlled artifact storage (rack and floor storage)
Large wash sink
Hot table
Fully operational woodshop with table saw, drill press, band saws, jointer, shaper, and surface planer
Binocular stereo microscopes
Metal working and welding area
Vented chemical storage cabinets
Spray booth and fume extraction hoods
300W Laser Cleaning Unit
Fully operational metal shop with MIG, TIG, and Oxy-acetylene welding; plasma cutter
Fully equipped wood working shop for mount fabrication and crate construction
Vacuum suction table
Forklift – 5000 lb. lift capacity
Portable gantry cranes – 3,500 lb. lift capacity
Automotive lift – 9,000 lb. capacity
conservation lab location
Our conservation lab is conveniently located in Carlisle, PA, famous for their summer car shows. Due to our centralized location and highway infrastructure routes the area has become the leading trucking, distribution, and logistics hub of the east coast. We are only a few hours from many large cities and metropolitan areas.
