Acme Visible recently completed a significant project for Salishan Place by the River, a newly constructed cultural centre in Langley Township, BC. Built to replace an outdated facility, Salishan Place serves as a hub for preserving and celebrating Indigenous heritage, requiring purpose-built storage infrastructure capable of housing a diverse and complex collection — from large artifacts and works of art to delicate archaeological specimens.
The curatorial team faced the challenge of maximizing usable storage space while safely accommodating a wide variety of artifact types, each with distinct dimensional, structural, and preservation requirements. Working closely with the Salishan Place curator team throughout the planning and specification process, Acme Visible designed and supplied a comprehensive suite of storage solutions tailored to the precise needs of each collection category.
The solution included SDS Spacefile Mechanical Assist high-density mobile storage systems, configured with multi-level shelving, adjustable shelf decks, and garment rods to accommodate the full dimensional range of the centre's collections while maximizing floor-space efficiency. Rousseau Drawer Cabinets — specialized archival-grade cabinets — were selected to provide secure, organized storage for smaller archaeological items, ensuring fragile specimens are protected and easily accessible to researchers. Dedicated High Density Art Rack systems were also installed to safely store and retrieve framed works and oversized pieces, protecting surfaces and allowing vertical storage without stacking.
The result was a significant improvement in storage efficiency — every artifact type, from large heritage objects to delicate archaeological fragments and fine art, now has a dedicated, properly configured home. The Salishan Place by the River team gained a fully operational, high-capacity storage system that supports both preservation best practices and day-to-day collection management.
