STATEN ISLAND MUSEUM
Staten Island, NY
SKOLNICK was engaged to assist the Staten Island Museum with the development of an Interpretive Planning study to imagine content and themes for use in a building connected to their museum on the grounds of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanic Gardens, a National Historic Landmark district. SKOLNICK conceptualized how themes and topics could be integrated throughout both buildings to strengthen the visitor experience and further the Museum’s mission to spark curiosity and generate meaningful shared experiences through natural science, art, and history and to deepen people’s understanding of our environment, ourselves, and each other.
Services
Interpretive Master Planning
Audience Surveys
Size
Existing facility: 6,400 sf; Proposed expansion: 13,900 sf (total)
STATEN ISLAND HISTORY
Since 1881, the Staten Island Museum has been developing a breadth of collections that include a variety of natural specimens, historic documents on Staten Island’s history, and art from ancient and contemporary periods, and from African, Asian, and Native American cultures. Taken in whole, these collections present a multifaceted view of Staten Island’s unique natural and cultural history, and its connection to the world.
SUGGESTED INTERVENTIONS
Our proposed modifications include a compelling new entry incorporating arts and history collections objects and dynamic media, an Orientation exhibition where visitors are introduced to diverse communities on Staten Island and to the variety the Museum’s collections, and a Hands-on Lab for visitor activities and workshops led by local artists, scientists, and historians.
RELATED PROJECTS
ALABAMA GOSPEL MUSIC CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
THE NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM
HANK GREENBERG HALL OF HEROES