In 2005, the Wyoming State Museum was reaching capacity for storage of museum collections at its off-site storage facility. The Wyoming State Archives estimated it has approximately five years until it reached capacity at its current off-site storage facility. The existing off-site facilities did not have appropriate environmental controls and did not provide adequate workspace for employees. The Wyoming State Museum retained Paragon Research Associates (PRA) to conduct a Facility Needs Assessment to plan for the next 25 years of operation.

The Facility Needs Assessment evaluated options for renovation, additions to existing facilities, or new construction to support museum operations. The assessment conducted by PRA included a review of facility systems, storage equipment, and collections growth for 25 years. PRA teamed with architects from SEH to provide preliminary square foot requirements and construction cost estimates for each of the three facility options.

During the entire project, PRA worked closely with and consulted Wyoming State Museum and Archive staff to understand the daily interactions and specific needs of each department. The assessment included several key tasks. The first task included a review of the agencies that utilized the facilities and the collections they manage. The second task involved an assessment of the three current facilities that are in use and included recommendations for short- and long-term improvements to each facility. The third task was the identification of options for future collections storage facilities. The fourth task prepared by subconsultant SEH, Inc., includes square foot and cost estimates for the facility options. The fifth task included the identification of design concerns and recommendations for systems standards for new or renovated collections storage facilities. The sixth task included an evaluation of existing equipment for potential reuse in a new facility.