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  Several developments have led to a comprehensive review of space allocations throughout the Smithsonian Institution. First, the completion of the Museum Support Center will allow the transfer over the next several years of large volumes of collections from all museums, particularly the National Museum of Natural History/Museum of Man. Second, during this period the Quadrangle project will be completed, providing additional space and allowing relocation of Associates and Traveling Exhibitions offices from the Arts and Industries Building.  Third, lease costs at L'Enfant Plaza (51,00 sq. ft. of office space) and North Capitol Street (135,000 sq. ft. of storage and industrial-type space) have escalated sharply in recent years and encouraged the Institution to explore the feasibility of reducing or eliminating rental space in the Washington, D.C. area.

These developments have prompted a review of space assignments of other activities as well. The ultimate objectives of this review, in addition to reducing and perhaps eliminating rental space, are to make the most appropriate use of Institution space, owned or under construction, to improve functional relationships among units, to return space designed for the public to public use, and to develop a rationale for future use of the Arts and Industries Building.  While the overall time for our planning and action may be long, probably eight to ten years, some of the moves may start in the fairly near future, certainly as collections are moved to the Museum Support Center during calendar year 1983.