As museum collections grow, so does the need for storage space. Compact storage solutions such as high-density shelving, cabinets, and racks can help to free up space in museums for public viewing of collections. We recognize that museums require various unique storage solutions to store fragile and irreplaceable artifacts. Our compact high-density museum shelving is explicitly designed to preserve your museum’s collection. (Check out all of our museum storage solutions here.)
Read on to learn more about the following types of compact high-density museum storage solutions we offer:
- High-density museum shelving and cabinets
- Compact art racks
- Compact pallet racks
- High-density bulk racks
- High-density garment and textile storage racks
- Low-profile museum mobile shelving
- Heavy-duty museum mobile shelving
- High-bay mobile shelving
- High-density cold storage systems
As museum collections grow, so does the need for storage space. Compact storage solutions such as high-density shelving, cabinets, and racks can help to free up space in museums for public viewing of collections. We recognize that museums require various unique storage solutions to store fragile and irreplaceable artifacts. Our compact high-density museum shelving is explicitly designed to preserve your museum’s collection. (Check out all of our museum storage solutions here.)
Read on to learn more about the following types of compact high-density museum storage solutions we offer:
- High-density museum shelving and cabinets
- Compact art racks
- Compact pallet racks
- High-density bulk racks
- High-density garment and textile storage racks
- Low-profile museum mobile shelving
- Heavy-duty museum mobile shelving
- High-bay mobile shelving
- High-density cold storage systems
High-Density Museum Shelving and Cabinets
The most common high-density storage configuration features shelving or cabinets. In a compact high-density
system, shelving units or cabinets mount on mobile carriages that slide on floor rails. By replacing static aisle space with additional shelving units accessed by a single movable aisle, a high-density shelving system can provide a 100% increase in storage capacity in your existing footprint.
Artifacts and specimens in a museum’s collection often require specialized storage. High-density mobile storage systems accommodate a wide range of shelving and cabinets, including the storage solutions you’re already using. So, a high-density shelving system can store it all in less space, whether you’re storing archival boxes, jarred specimens, rare books, historical weapons, flat documents or artwork, or more.
Compact Art Racks

The compact storage system protects stored artwork from damaging light exposure, and the mesh panels allow airflow to circulate. With anti-tip devices affording stability, a high-density storage system is an excellent solution for storing heavier framed artwork. You could design a specialized compact art rack system or integrate the mobile art racks into a high-density system along with museum shelving and cabinets for other artifacts.
Compact Pallet Racks

High-Density Bulk Racks
High-density bulk racks are a similar solution for storing bulky museum artifacts. Bulk racks are smaller and lighter-duty than pallet racks and are typically hand-loaded. High-density bulk rack systems operate with a mechanical-assist handle. With a load capacity of 3,000 pounds per carriage, compact bulk racks are excellent for storing bulky artifacts or extensive collections. For example, one university’s fishery sciences department used a compact bulk rack system to store 12,000 boxes of samples efficiently. Visit our online store to see our museum storage products.
High-Density Garment and Textile Storage Racks

Low-Profile Museum Mobile Shelving
Low-profile mobile shelving is a more adaptable variation of the standard high-density shelving system. This light-duty compact storage system can be easily reconfigured and relocated. It’s the ideal solution for a museum that might be planning a future renovation, new construction, or a move to a new storage location but needs a space-saving solution to address immediate storage needs.

Heavy-Duty Museum Mobile Shelving
On the other end of the spectrum is heavy-duty mobile shelving. Compact pallet racks and bulk racks fall into this category, but we also offer heavy-duty shelving systems that can support loads of up to 7,000 pounds per carriage, with options for mechanical-assist or powered operation. The heavy-duty mobile shelving systems are also suitable for cold and freezer storage. A heavy-duty compact shelving system is an excellent solution for museums with large and heavy collections.
High-Bay Mobile Shelving

High-Density Cold Storage Systems
Several high-density systems are suitable for cold storage applications, including shelving systems and compact pallet racks. Cold storage is critical for preserving photographs, film-based materials, certain biological materials, and other delicate artifacts. A high-density storage system allows you to maximize your storage capacity in this costly climate-controlled space. You can read more about climate-controlled storage solutions for museums here.
Benefits of High-Density Shelving for Museums

- Double your storage capacity in your existing footprint, saving valuable storage space
- Include features to protect your collections from excessive light exposure, temperature, humidity, fire, water, contaminants, pests, and other threats
- Keep all types of items organized and accessible
- Provide added flexibility in terms of layout and use of space
- Choice of powered or manual controls for quick and easy access to storage
- Locking options for added security for stored collections
- Equipped with numerous safety features to protect personnel in the aisles
- Less expensive to purchase, develop, and maintain than new construction, especially if you utilize your preexisting shelving
- Can be custom-designed to meet the needs of your unique collection
- Available through GSA contracts, various state contracts, Sourcewell, and OMNIA
High-Density Museum Shelving and Cabinets
The most common high-density storage configuration features shelving or cabinets. In a compact high-density
system, shelving units or cabinets mount on mobile carriages that slide on floor rails. By replacing static aisle space with additional shelving units accessed by a single movable aisle, a high-density shelving system can provide a 100% increase in storage capacity in your existing footprint.
Artifacts and specimens in a museum’s collection often require specialized storage. High-density mobile storage systems accommodate a wide range of shelving and cabinets, including the storage solutions you’re already using. So, a high-density shelving system can store it all in less space, whether you’re storing archival boxes, jarred specimens, rare books, historical weapons, flat documents or artwork, or more.
Compact Art Racks

The compact storage system protects stored artwork from damaging light exposure, and the mesh panels allow airflow to circulate. With anti-tip devices affording stability, a high-density storage system is an excellent solution for storing heavier framed artwork. You could design a specialized compact art rack system or integrate the mobile art racks into a high-density system along with museum shelving and cabinets for other artifacts.
Compact Pallet Racks

High-Density Bulk Racks
High-density bulk racks are a similar solution for storing bulky museum artifacts. Bulk racks are smaller and lighter-duty than pallet racks and are typically hand-loaded. High-density bulk rack systems operate with a mechanical-assist handle. With a load capacity of 3,000 pounds per carriage, compact bulk racks are excellent for storing bulky artifacts or extensive collections. For example, one university’s fishery sciences department used a compact bulk rack system to store 12,000 boxes of samples efficiently. Visit our online store to see our museum storage products.
High-Density Garment and Textile Storage Racks

Low-Profile Museum Mobile Shelving
Low-profile mobile shelving is a more adaptable variation of the standard high-density shelving system. This light-duty compact storage system can be easily reconfigured and relocated. It’s the ideal solution for a museum that might be planning a future renovation, new construction, or a move to a new storage location but needs a space-saving solution to address immediate storage needs.

Heavy-Duty Museum Mobile Shelving
On the other end of the spectrum is heavy-duty mobile shelving. Compact pallet racks and bulk racks fall into this category, but we also offer heavy-duty shelving systems that can support loads of up to 7,000 pounds per carriage, with options for mechanical-assist or powered operation. The heavy-duty mobile shelving systems are also suitable for cold and freezer storage. A heavy-duty compact shelving system is an excellent solution for museums with large and heavy collections.
High-Bay Mobile Shelving

High-Density Cold Storage Systems
Several high-density systems are suitable for cold storage applications, including shelving systems and compact pallet racks. Cold storage is critical for preserving photographs, film-based materials, certain biological materials, and other delicate artifacts. A high-density storage system allows you to maximize your storage capacity in this costly climate-controlled space. You can read more about climate-controlled storage solutions for museums here.
Benefits of High-Density Shelving for Museums

- Double your storage capacity in your existing footprint, saving valuable storage space
- Include features to protect your collections from excessive light exposure, temperature, humidity, fire, water, contaminants, pests, and other threats
- Keep all types of items organized and accessible
- Provide added flexibility in terms of layout and use of space
- Choice of powered or manual controls for quick and easy access to storage
- Locking options for added security for stored collections
- Equipped with numerous safety features to protect personnel in the aisles
- Less expensive to purchase, develop, and maintain than new construction, especially if you utilize your preexisting shelving
- Can be custom-designed to meet the needs of your unique collection
- Available through GSA contracts, various state contracts, Sourcewell, and OMNIA
High-Density Museum Shelving and Cabinets
The most common high-density storage configuration features shelving or cabinets. In a compact high-density system, shelving units or cabinets mount on mobile carriages that slide on floor rails. By replacing static aisle space with additional shelving units accessed by a single movable aisle, a high-density shelving system can provide a 100% increase in storage capacity in your existing footprint.
Artifacts and specimens in a museum’s collection often require specialized storage. High-density mobile storage systems accommodate a wide range of shelving and cabinets, including the storage solutions you’re already using. So, a high-density shelving system can store it all in less space, whether you’re storing archival boxes, jarred specimens, rare books, historical weapons, flat documents or artwork, or more.
Compact Art Racks

The compact storage system protects stored artwork from damaging light exposure, and the mesh panels allow airflow to circulate. With anti-tip devices affording stability, a high-density storage system is an excellent solution for storing heavier framed artwork. You could design a specialized compact art rack system or integrate the mobile art racks into a high-density system along with museum shelving and cabinets for other artifacts.
Compact Pallet Racks

High-Density Bulk Racks
High-density bulk racks are a similar solution for storing bulky museum artifacts. Bulk racks are smaller and lighter-duty than pallet racks and are typically hand-loaded. High-density bulk rack systems operate with a mechanical-assist handle. With a load capacity of 3,000 pounds per carriage, compact bulk racks are excellent for storing bulky artifacts or extensive collections. For example, one university’s fishery sciences department used a compact bulk rack system to store 12,000 boxes of samples efficiently. Visit our online store to see our museum storage products.
High-Density Garment and Textile Storage Racks

Low-Profile Museum Mobile Shelving

Unlike standard high-density shelving systems that anchor rails into the floor, low-profile mobile shelving systems use a modular floor system that can be relocated without permanent site disturbance. The low-profile mobile shelving offers the same strength and versatility as a standard system that can meet your museum storage needs now and in your future space.
Heavy-Duty Museum Mobile Shelving
On the other end of the spectrum is heavy-duty mobile shelving. Compact pallet racks and bulk racks fall into this category, but we also offer heavy-duty shelving systems that can support loads of up to 7,000 pounds per carriage, with options for mechanical-assist or powered operation. The heavy-duty mobile shelving systems are also suitable for cold and freezer storage. A heavy-duty compact shelving system is an excellent solution for museums with large and heavy collections.
High-Bay Mobile Shelving

High-Density Cold Storage Systems
Several high-density systems are suitable for cold storage applications, including shelving systems and compact pallet racks. Cold storage is critical for preserving photographs, film-based materials, certain biological materials, and other delicate artifacts. A high-density storage system allows you to maximize your storage capacity in this costly climate-controlled space. You can read more about climate-controlled storage solutions for museums here.
Benefits of High-Density Shelving for Museums

- Double your storage capacity in your existing footprint, saving valuable storage space
- Include features to protect your collections from excessive light exposure, temperature, humidity, fire, water, contaminants, pests, and other threats
- Keep all types of items organized and accessible
- Provide added flexibility in terms of layout and use of space
- Choice of powered or manual controls for quick and easy access to storage
- Locking options for added security for stored collections
- Equipped with numerous safety features to protect personnel in the aisles
- Less expensive to purchase, develop, and maintain than new construction, especially if you utilize your preexisting shelving
- Can be custom-designed to meet the needs of your unique collection
- Available through GSA contracts, various state contracts, Sourcewell, and OMNIA
See Museum Storage Solutions Prices
See Museum storage shelving, racks, & cabinets prices





Contact Us for Compact High-Density Museum Shelving
Southwest Solutions Group® provides design and installation services for compact high-density museum shelving. We will also provide a free consultation to determine your exact needs and specifications before the design process begins. To learn more or to speak with a specialist, call us at 1-800-803-1083 or send us a message today.
Resources
Museum Testimonials

“I want to thank your entire team for the outstanding work on our art storage project. The process from beginning to end was smooth and enjoyable, and the finished room looks terrific! Chester, Bryan, Chris, Chris, and the other members were extremely thorough and a pleasure to work with. They followed our house rules and took our direction very well. Thanks again for an outstanding project, and I look forward to working with Southwest Solutions in the future should the opportunity arise. ”

“The new art racks are massive and beautiful! I cannot wait to hang art on the racks with those fancy hooks, wow! Thank you for helping me see the project through. The efforts of your team and installation really made the project go very smoothly and on time. We look forward to showing off the new and improved art storage room to our Director, Board Members, and Staff. Thanks a million, it has been a pleasure to work with you and your wonderful team on our paintings storage area.”
“I would like to thank you and your team at Southwest Solutions Group for working with the museum so diligently over the years. I also want to thank you personally for your patience, professionalism and great attitude as we’ve navigated the sometimes bumpy road to completing the Blanton Phase I and Phase II. Southwest Solutions Group will certainly be at the very top of my list for any future museum storage needs.”

“Southwest Solutions Group is an amazing company made so much better by having Daryl at the helm of Museum and Library storage space saving designs in the NW. Daryl is not only an expert in high density shelving systems, but he consistently tunes into optimizing long term solutions to complex storage needs and pliable projects. Always reliable and knowledgeable, Daryl and his Spacesaver’s team have been indispensable partners in our world of cultural preservation.”
See more museum testimonials



Museum Storage Overview
Museum Collections Storage Guide
Risk Management in Museums





