Separate three working areas
Plan a guest exhibition area, guest services and a staff back-of-house area. Group exhibits that can form a coherent themed tour, with continuous walking space between them.
Place Info Stands and Donation Stands by their actual coverage, rather than assuming one per gallery is enough. Put toilets, refreshments and seating on routes guests use.
Keep staff routes short
Connect the Staff Room, training, analysis and working facilities with short routes; staff-only doors can help separate those routes from guest areas. Check security coverage at entrances, exits and easily overlooked exhibit areas.
Two-tile-wide paths are a PC author’s practical starting suggestion, not a mandatory minimum. Leave more room around large exhibits and busy areas.
Audit after every expansion
- Look for detours, gaps in Info Stand coverage and full donation boxes.
- Check service queues and staff travelling across the museum for routine jobs.
- Inspect guest complaints and the relevant coverage overlays.
- Inspect the tour’s dotted route in the order its stops were selected.
If a tour sprawls, reduce its stops or move the selected exhibits closer together. This is an iterative planning method, not a single tested optimal floor plan.