Construction crew from Cooperativa Santa Fe, our partners in Cuba.
US (in green) and Cuban mechanical experts set up the HVAC system.
Sample of conserved documents in the archival vault.
Samples of the Hemingway collection in the archival vault.
Samples of the Hemingway collection in the archival vault.
FVF Ribbon Cutting. President Gladys Collazo in white and Congressman James McGovern cut the ribbon to officially open the conservation center.
Dedication Plaque
The exterior of the completed Conservation Center at Finca Vigía.
Back view of the completed Conservation Center at Finca Vigía.
View of the completed wet laboratory at the Conservation Center.
Exterior view of the Conservation Center.
Exterior drain catch.
Inside the dry conservation laboratory.
Programming the thermostat to commission the HVAC system.
Checking electrical wiring in the conservation laboratory.
Determining where to position the external generator.
Installation of the HVAC system.
Reviewing mechanical systems.
Studying for final supply list for the conservation center.
Double concrete walls to ensure temperature and humidity stability to protect the documents.
Initial plumbing lines.
Tiling the wet lab.
Fixed windows are all installed.
Finishing up installation of the windows that open.
Shims are applied to hold the window firmly in place.
Ice and water shield wrapping is installed around the window sills to help keep moisture out.
Wet lab wall tiling is complete.
Roof tile edging.
Mortar shiming is required to maintain a positive slope to direct water off the roof.
Roof tiling is well underway.
Foundation inspection.
Roof inspection.
US and Cuban architects and engineers planning the building design
Mason works on concrete block wall.
Foundation and concrete block support walls.
Stucco is in place on some of the lateral support walls.
Ramps are put in place to move materials.
Materials ramp along side the building.
New Construction
The Need For A Restoration Center
Environmentally controlled archival storage of the original Hemingway documents at Finca Vigía did not exist. Over time, the humid environment in Cuba can be very destructive to documents, photos, and books.
For a decade museum curators wanted to build an archival storage center with wet and dry conservation laboratories… formerly known as the Taller…on site at Finca Vigía. The building, finally completed in 2019, was renamed the Restoration Center by the Consejo Nacional de Patrimonio — reflecting the many marvelous state-of-the-art technologies within.
Over time, the humid environment in Cuba can be very destructive to documents, photos, and books.
Construction of the Restoration Center was broken down into three phases: Rough Construction, Finished Construction, and Outfitting the Laboratories.
We began by creating a comprehensive materials list for all phases that was pre-approved by
both the US and Cuban technical teams and governments. It included items as diverse as
roof tiles, plumbing fixtures, a skid steer loader, fine Japanese tissue paper, scissors, and
watercolors.
In June 2016, the first two of six shipping containers carried roofing materials, floor and wall tiles, hurricane proof windows, rough plumbing, and rough electrical. Chests filled with hundreds of tools, hard hats, safety gear, and safety posters were also sent.
A year later other containers arrived with the important HVAC equipment; a generator; finish
plumbing, sanitation, and electrical supplies; and interior doors.
The final container brought equipment needed in a modern conservation laboratory – bright
lights, fume hoods, suction tables, drying racks, cold storage, cabinetry, tables and chairs.
Also, the many supplies needed to repair and stabilize the thousands of very old and very
important Hemingway documents.
The building was dedicated March 30, 2019.
Materials needed to begin Phase 2 are ready to ship to Cuba.
