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Building, the Old Patent Office Building, the original Corcoran Art Building, and the Barney Studio House. As time passes, these buildings will require added resources to assure their preservation and continued usefulness to the public and the Institution. In addition, many buildings of more recent construction will begin to require more attention.

At the present time, the Institution is devoting $7,000,000 to $9,000,000 of federal funds annually to the renovation and restoration of its buildings, exclusive of utilities, custodial care, and basic maintenance provided through the operational budget.  while the annual figure may fluctuate somewhat, the Institution foresees a need to increase its renovation and restoration efforts to the level of approximately $14,000,000 per year during the next five-year period.  Management will make periodic assessment of the adequacy of this level of funding and, within the framework of future years' available renovation and restoration funds, the Institution will continue to make improvements at various locations.  Included among these are such items as expanded tropical research facilities and improvements to the Barro Colorado Nature Monument under the supervision of the Tropical Research Institute in Panama and the Astrophysical Observatory's continued improvement of the Mt. Hopkins site.  Beyond FY 1988, renovation, restoration, and modifications to existing space in Mall and other buildings for exhibitions, research programs, access by the handicapped, safety and health, and general preservation of historic facilities will continue to be among the highest priorities of the Smithsonian.

If these improvements and additions to the Institution's physical plant occur, there will, of course, be related operating costs for necessary personnel, utilities, equipment and other items, to be funded largely through the federal appropriations process.  While some operating and equipping needs have been factored into the S&E projections through FYH 1988 for the Quadrangle, Museum Support Center, and facilities associated with the Zoological Park, it is too early to speculate about similar resources related to longer-range building possibilities.  This will be done, however, as plans become firmer and as the time horizon shortens to the three-to-five-year period usually associated with legislative, appropriation, and construction cycles for physical plant additions.

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As refinements are made to the Institution's long-range construction and operational aspirations, Congress, the Executive Branch, and other constituents will be kept fully informed through every means of communication, including the [[underlined]]Prospectus.[[/underlined]]