Accessible Text Descriptions of the Bannister Gallery
This floor plan depicts the interior layout of the Edward Mitchell Bannister Gallery in Roberts Hall, Room 124 at Rhode Island College, Providence, Rhode Island. It shows the gallery room in relation to adjacent building elements, circulation paths, display areas, and functional zones.
Overall Room Shape and Size
- The gallery is an approximately rectangular exhibition space with a total exhibition area of about 1,100 square feet.
- Wall heights throughout the main gallery are 10 feet tall.
- The ceiling extends up to 11 feet 3 inches from the floor, rising into a roof structure supported by steel web trusses.
- Track lighting is installed throughout the space to illuminate exhibit walls and displayed works.
Entrances and Circulation
- The main public entrance is shown at the lower right of the floorplan. It is 3 feet wide and opens from a building entry corridor into the gallery.
- Near this entrance is a visitor sign-in desk where visitors check in or receive information.
- A building corridor leads past the gallery entry, with an interior corridor shown at the left and lower edges of the diagram.
Functional Zones and Fixtures
Monitor’s Desk
- Just inside the gallery, on the left side of the main exhibition space, there is a monitor’s desk positioned against a plaster dividing wall. This is typically used by staff or docents to oversee visitor flow.
- A plaster wall approximately 8.5 feet tall divides the monitor’s desk area from the rest of the gallery space.
Display Cases and Exhibition Surfaces
Five different display case groupings are indicated on the plan, with approximate dimensions. The floorplan likely shows these as free-standing cases, not attached to walls, organized to allow circulation on all sides:
- One cluster of three display cases — each case ≈ 4 feet wide × 4 feet high × 10 inches deep.
- Five display cases — each case ≈ 5 feet wide × 4 feet high × 4 inches deep.
- Two additional display cases — each ≈ 5 feet wide × 4 feet high × 4 inches deep.
These cases are distributed within the gallery to create viewing zones and pathways; precise placements correspond to spatial distances noted on the drawing (eg: 20 feet, 22 feet, 35 feet) between walls and key features.
Architectural Features and Utilities
- Windows and heating/air-conditioning vents are shown along the upper edge of the plan, indicating natural light sources and climate control placement.
- On the left side of the gallery, nearest the building corridor, the floorplan notes descending stairs — suggesting that part of the gallery sits adjacent to vertical circulation features and possibly an adjacent auditorium space (Robert’s Auditorium).
- A nearby temporary storage area is also shown off the corridor, outside the primary visitor flow path.
Adjacent Spaces
The plan indicates the gallery is accessed from a building entry corridor at the lower edge and is adjacent to ancillary spaces such as an auditorium and corridor circulation areas.
Interpretation Notes for Assistive Consumers
- Where measurements are given (feet and inches), they refer to horizontal distances or clearances in the physical space. These help convey the size and scale of circulation and viewing areas.
- Display case depths are shallow relative to human body size (~10 inches), so these fixtures are likely low-profile and arranged to allow unobstructed paths around them.
- The monitor’s desk and visitor sign-in desk locations serve as orientation markers near the entrance for wayfinding.
Please Note: For clarity, the bottom of the floorplan is described as South, the top as North, the right as East, and the left as West.
Overall Shape and Dimensions
- The gallery is rectangular and approximately 1,100 square feet.
- Wall height is approximately 10 feet.
- The ceiling height extends to approximately 11 feet 3 inches.
- The central floor area is open, with movable display cases arranged within the room.
South Wall (Bottom of Plan)
- The main public entrance is located at the southeast corner.
- The doorway is approximately 3 feet wide and opens into the gallery.
- A visitor sign-in desk is positioned just inside the entrance, slightly to the right.
- A building corridor is located outside the south wall.
East Wall (Right Side)
- The east wall provides continuous exhibition wall space.
- Clear circulation space runs along this wall.
North Wall (Top of Plan)
- The north wall includes windows and HVAC vents.
- Exhibition surfaces continue between window placements.
- No entrance or exit is located on this wall.
West Wall (Left Side)
- A monitor’s desk is located near the southwest quadrant.
- An approximately 8.5-foot-high plaster dividing wall separates the monitor’s desk from the main exhibition space.
- Beyond the west wall are building corridors, descending stairs, and a temporary storage area (not accessible from within the gallery).
Central Floor Area
- Three display cases approximately 4 feet wide and 10 inches deep.
- Five display cases approximately 5 feet wide and 4 inches deep.
- Two additional 5-foot-wide display cases.
- All cases are freestanding and allow circulation on all sides.
Lighting and Ceiling
- Track lighting is installed throughout the ceiling.
- Steel web trusses support the roof structure.
