Mary Stedman Exploration Hall

Topic: Other Subtopic: General


Case Study of an Exhibition
by elgin cleckley: Published on September 08, 2009, Modified on October 07, 2009

Museum: Ontario Science Centre Focus: Botanical Garden
Collaborating Organization(s): Royal Botanical Gardens
People who worked on this: Anthony Sword, Branko Voganic, Brent Auld, Cathie Spencer, Craig Allen, Daryl Gray, Denise Frechette, Elgin Cleckley, Gail Collins, Glenn Macintosh, Gus Dassios, Harold Knogl, Heather Farnworth, Ian Rollo, John Behrend, John Mclaughlin, Julie Jones, Kathy Nicholaichuk, Laureen Creighton, Liam Donnelly, Meiko Bae, Mike Lesley, Niina Gates - Kass, Norm Johnson, Peter Gould, Roshelle Filart, Sean Bailey, Shawn Penny, Stephen Shipton, Tom Kasanda, Will Shianti, Ziggy Hammer

Description and goals

The Ontario Science Centre was chosen to produce several exhibits for the Mary Stedman Exploration Hall at Royal Botanical Gardens Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. The exhibits line a colonnade filled with skylights, leading to an large, airy atrium. Through this atrium, access to a new public space for special exhibitions (the Camilla and Peter Daglish Atrium) is provided as well as barrier free access to the gardens beyond.

The exhibits were developed in 4 various zones created by the project team at Royal Botanical Gardens, setting up the sequence for content and experience in the colonnade. They are follows: Zone 1 for Visitor Orientation, Zone 2 People, Plants, and Nature at Royal Botanical Gardens, Zone 3 Biodiversity, and Zone 4 Call to Action.
Development process and challenges

Early planning of the “Hive” proved to be quite the challenge. The existing architecture of the space in the Atrium required a form to direct visitors to the new Camilla and Peter Daglish Atrium on a right angle, or straight ahead to other garden areas. It also had to hold the attention of visitors for a while, in order to cover three topic areas on Biodiversity of the site.

Defining what native species are also proved to be difficult during content discussions.

Working in tandem with Royal Botanical Gardens at all levels of the project from early thematic discussions, creative concept reports, defined content integration and design development reviews helped define how the exhibits would represent the 4 Zones best. Interactive prototyping and material selections geared to the space produced exhibits that represented the intentions of the client in a new and informative way for visitors.
Lessons learned, mistakes we made (and what we did about them)

Several screens in the “Hive” are hard to see with the existing bright sunlight of the Mary Stedman Exploration Hall. Similar problems occur on the Orientation Map exhibit, where areas on the map that light up have similar visual problems due to the light in the space. Suggestions will be given to RBG for how to maximize visibility issues.

On the other hand, the light in the colonnade plays very well with the selected materials that play with translucency and transparency.

Exhibition Opened: September 2009
Exhibition Still Open!
Traveling Exhibition: No
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Estimated Cost: $100,000 to $500,000 (US)
Size: 1000 to 3,000 sq ft.
Website(s): http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/, http://www.rbg.ca

View towards the "Hive", a structure defined by exhibits on the topic of Biodiversity at Royal Botanical Gardens. Two curved walls create three exhibit zones - an area for a Royal Tour, Biodiversity on their sites, and a quiz on facts at Royal Botanical Gardens.

View within the inner sanctum of the "Hive". On the left, four panels explain different ecosystems at RBG, with CNC cut panels of the Organic Filters. On the right, an exhibit that alows visitors to guess smells, and the ranges of various species in the gardens.

Plants in Your Life - A quick quiz to find how plants affect our daily lives. The designs also accommodate locations for plants to be displayed, as well as areas to pin up daily demonstrations and information.

Orientation Map - At the entrance of the Hall, visitors can learn the extent of Royal Botanical Gardens, pick up a map, and plan their journey accordingly.

The "Organic Filters" of the Hive - Graphic snapshots of elements visitors will see in the gardens, CNC cut in various 3ft x 3ft of various veneer squares.

Mary Stedman Exploration Hall

Topic: Other Subtopic: General

of an Exhibition

Museum: Ontario Science Centre Focus: Botanical Garden

Collaborating Organization(s): Royal Botanical Gardens

Description and goals

Development process and challenges

Lessons learned, mistakes we made (and what we did about them)

Exhibition Opened: September 2009

Exhibition Still Open!

Traveling Exhibition: No

Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Estimated Cost: $100,000 to $500,000 (US)

Size: 1000 to 3,000 sq ft.

Website(s): http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/, http://www.rbg.ca

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