Forty years ago when E. Verner Johnson and Associates designed one of the first modern science museums with the quadrupling in size of the Museum of Science in Boston–we were, in fact, creating a whole new type of museum. The innovations in that project–open, flexible exhibit areas structured in long-span pre-cast concrete; glass railings to increase visual connections; the first museum escalators; a central multi-level exhibit orientation space open to adjacent exhibit areas–had never been seen in a museum before, but have been adopted in virtually every successful science museum since.
Today, we continue to push the design envelope, developing innovations that spring from the unique needs of each client. During the planning and design of the Virginia Marine Science Museum, for example, we suggested combining the magic of marine science aquariums with the learning power of science center interactivity. This innovative combination has been so successful that the museum has consistently had the highest attendance of any museum in Virginia.
Our early explorations in science center design pushed internal design innovation. New technologies and materials allowed more exploration of creative exterior expressions, mirroring the dynamic quality of our interior expressions. We are now using technologies in our buildings that were unimaginable thirty years ago. Science evolves, technology evolves, and museums evolve. Our earliest designs–while innovative at the time–have also been flexible enough to adapt to changing institutional needs.
The following is a selection of our science museum projects:
St. Louis Science Center
St. Louis , MissouriArchitect for new building
Great Lakes Science Center
Cleveland, OhioArchitect for new building
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Virginia Beach, VirginiaArchitect for new buildings- Phase I and II
Museum of Science
Boston, MassachusetsArchitect for expanded facilities
Museum of Discovery and Science
Fort Lauderdale, FloridaArchitect for new building
Liberty Science Center
Liberty Park, New JerseyDesign architect for new building
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Raleigh, North CarolinaDesign architect for new building
Guangdong Science Center
Guangzhou, ChinaDesign competition for new building
Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago, IllinoisDesign Architect for the Renovation and expansion
Desert Space Station
Amargosa Valey, NevadaDesign architect for new building
Hong Kong Science Museum
Hong Kong, ChinaMaster Planning and Conceptual Design
Science Discovery Museum
Acton, MassachusettsArchitect for new building
Cumberland Science Museum
Nashville,TNMaster Planning and Conceptual Design
Mid-America Center
Hot Springs, ARDesign architect for new building
Caguas Science Center
Caguas, Puerto RicoDesign Architect for new building
