VFA performed the pro bono assessment work to document the current condition of the museum’s building and infrastructure, identify maintenance and renewal requirements, and pinpoint areas for future capital improvement. The assessment team used VFA.facility® software to collect the assessment data and document facility requirements and their associated costs. The museum, which has licensed the software, will continue to use VFA.facility to help manage its capital planning initiatives.

VFA presented their findings of the comprehensive condition assessment in a report to the Museum of Science Facilities Committee, which is composed of Museum trustees, overseers and facilities staff. The project is part of a larger Museum of Science initiative to establish a regular maintenance plan for Science Park and prioritize potential “green” or sustainability investments. The Museum of Science, Boston has occupied its current facility since 1951.

“Empowered with detailed information about facilities and associated systems and powerful capital planning software provided by VFA, the Museum of Science is now better equipped to make informed decisions about future capital renewal investments,” said John Slakey, Chief Financial Officer at the Museum of Science, Boston.

“The Museum of Science is one of the defining, cultural institutions that we are so fortunate to have here in Boston. VFA takes special pride in helping the Museum to provide well-maintained facilities that are up to the task of inspiring, educating and informing students and museum-goers about the world of science and technology,” said VFA President and CEO Jerry Kokos. “VFA provides all of its clients with detailed facility condition information that serves as business intelligence for strategically managing capital assets more effectively.”

Headquartered in Boston, VFA has assessed more than 20,000 facilities, including facilities for New England institutions such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Boston and University of Massachusetts Medical School.

About the Museum of Science, Boston
One of the world’s largest science centers, the Museum of Science takes a hands-on approach to science, engineering, and technology, attracting over 1.6 million visitors a year through its vibrant programs and 700 interactive exhibits. Founded in 1830, the Museum was first to embrace all the sciences under one roof. The Museum is ranked one of the top two science museums in the United States in the Zagat Survey’s “U.S. Family Travel Guide.” Highlights include the Thomson Theater of Electricity; Charles Hayden Planetarium; the 180-degree domed Mugar Omni Theater; 3-D Digital Cinema; and Butterfly Garden. In addition to being the headquarters for the Intel Computer Clubhouse® reaching 50,000 teens worldwide, the Museum is lead partner in a multi-museum, $20 million National Science Foundation-funded nanotechnology initiative. The Museum’s “Science Is an Activity” exhibit plan has been awarded many NSF grants and influenced science centers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.mos.org.

About VFA
Headquartered in Boston, VFA, Inc. is the leading provider of end–to–end solutions for facilities capital planning and asset management. VFA’s Capital Planning and Management Solution (CPMS™) uniquely combines facility assessment services, Web-based software, and business consulting services to enable clients to manage every stage of the capital asset lifecycle—from requirements gathering and long-term planning to capital budget creation and spend management. VFA has helped over 300 organizations in corporate, education, government and healthcare markets to strategically manage more than two billion square feet of real estate. For more information, please call 800-693-3132 or visit http://www.vfa.com.