DISCOVERY ZONE
FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Gainesville, FL
The Discovery Zone at the Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) was designed to be active space of exploration that welcomes children and families to investigate the Museum's collections and research in the areas of Archaeology, Ethnography, Natural Sciences, and Paleontology. The exhibits and hands-on activities invite children to explore life on Earth and cultural heritage and discover their role within these spheres.
Services
Interpretive Planning
Exhibit Design and Development
Interior Design
Graphic Design
Size
2,000 sf
Awards
2018 SEMC Excellence in Exhibitions Competition
Bronze; Budget of $1,000,00 or more category
WEB OF LIFE
The concept for the Discovery Zone is an ever-expanding world of knowledge about our diverse planet and the interconnected web of life. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a large spherical-shaped framework with a huge sculpture of a Zebra Longwing butterfly and its host plant, the Passionflower. Expanding out from this central sphere, children are literally surrounded by hundreds of specimens and visual elements representing this biodiversity and the richness of the Museum’s collections.
ACTIVITY ZONES
The exhibit is organized by activity zones that correspond to the Museum’s collection areas: Play, Pretend, Explore, and Study. Within each zone, specimen displays and hands-on activities await discovery.
“We really enjoyed collaborating with the SKOLNICK team to design and fabricate our first new permanent exhibition in over 10 years — the Discovery Zone...They listened to our ideas, and incorporated our collection resources and stakeholder recommendations to create an innovative exhibit environment...The Discovery Zone has received the highest accolades from visitors, donors, and museum professionals.
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