- Exhibition installation - Design and installation teams reuse risers, exhibit cases, and temporary walls built for previous Newfields exhibitions. They take measures to reduce construction waste by reusing existing walls from exhibition to exhibition whenever possible. Newfields also repurposes the custom-made interior padding in art shipping crates for mounts in art storage.
- Environmental controls - At their meeting in Frankfurt (26 October 2012) members of the Bizot Group unanimously adopted the Guiding Principles and Interim Guidelines, which state: Museums should review policy and practice, particularly regarding loan requirements, storage and display conditions, and building design and air conditioning systems, with a view to reducing carbon footprints. Museums need to find ways to reconcile the desirability of long-term preservation of collections with the need to reduce energy use. Museums should apply whatever methodology or strategies best suit their collections, building and needs, and innovative approaches should be encouraged.
- Conservation Labs - Many changes have been made in Newfields conservation labs over the past several years. The conservation labs no longer use X-ray technology; instead, they use digital technology. Conservators have eliminated chemical developers and fixers for black and white film and color slides. They use high-volume/low-pressure (HVLP) spray guns for application of paints and varnishes that minimize overspray. The Conservation Department uses less toxic solvents and/or water-based materials when possible. Scrap supplies not suitable for use in the conservation labs or in the print room are shared with the education division.
- The Tobias Theater - During the renovation of The Tobias Theater in 2008, the materials used in the renovation included:
- Retire Composite Flooring, made from 100% recycled materials including cork and tires, was used throughout the theater
- Kirei Board, laminated board made from recycled wood, was used for the lobby trim, wall paneling and service area
- Recyclable Shaw carpet tiles were used in the lobby, ADA seating areas and hallways
- Recycled glass and concrete from Santarosa Terrazzo was used for the countertops in the service area
- Seats are covered in Victor theater fabric, made of 100% recycled polyester Foam chairs made by Comfy Sacks used as “alternative seating” for some theater events are made with recycled polyurethane filling
- All bathroom fixtures, including toilets and urinals, are waterless or low-water use
Visitors Pavilion at The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park
On June 20, 2010, the Ruth K. Lilly Pavilion opened with LEED certification. The 3,000-square-foot structure is both aesthetically innovative and functional, providing visitors with restrooms, emergency phones, and shelter. It’s partially constructed with certified plantation-grown tropical hardwoods and utilizes geothermal heating and cooling systems. Fallen logs integral to the eco-system were temporarily removed for construction and then returned to preserve the site’s ecological balance.