HSNC VC vA MdRs
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HSNC PROJECT PROFILE vA Page 1 Chris Au 604 961 3472 [email protected] Helen Schuler Nature Centre Permanent Exhibits CLIENT The Helen Schuler Nature Center (HSNC) is a much beloved and well-attended destination that connects people to the local environment through exhibits and programs. The centre—within the City of Lethbridge, AB— is ecologically rich and diverse and has supported human occupation for millennia. PROJECT The Centre is located between the Oldman River and coulee formations within the city limits. The building itself sits nestled against a riparian Cottonwood forest on a floodplain and is surrounded by walking trails. The City of Lethbridge engaged a team lead by Panther Creative Inc. to develop permanent exhibits in the Centre. Chris Au, the Project Manager, oversaw and contributed directly to the interpretation, design, and production of the exhibits. OBJECTIVE To present stories that anchor the visitor experience and act as a foundation to the HSNC’s programs on the environment presented with complementary scientific and Blackfoot (Kanai) perspectives. AUDIENCE The primary audience profiles include: • residents (mostly) and visitors; • drop-in visitor groups; most often multi-generational; • first-visit, self-guided adults; • repeat-visit adults facilitating an educational or attraction-based experience for a small group of first-visit friends and family. CHALLENGES The client had prepared a well-thought-out Exhibit Guideline with interpretive themes, messages, and suggested media. The exhibit team followed the guidelines while expanding and enhancing the exhibit techniques to deliver practical and engaging presentations. The client and their Kanai advisory group provided invaluable feedback and direction to ensure the presentations were authentic. The lobby space in which the exhibit was primarily located served other purposes which needed to be accommodated. Anchoring the visitor experience Complementary scientific and cultural perspectives tell the story of the unique Oldman River / Coulee system.
Transcript of HSNC VC vA MdRs
HSNC PROJECT PROFILE
vA
Page 1
Chr is Au
604 961 3472
Chr is .Au@DidaxDes ign .com
Helen Schuler Nature Centre Permanent ExhibitsC L I E N T The Helen Schuler Nature Center (HSNC) is a much beloved and well-attended destination that
connects people to the local environment through exhibits and programs. The centre—within the City of Lethbridge, AB— is ecologically rich and diverse and has supported human occupation for millennia.
P R O J E C T The Centre is located between the Oldman River and coulee formations within the city limits. The building itself sits nestled against a riparian Cottonwood forest on a floodplain and is surrounded by walking trails. The City of Lethbridge engaged a team lead by Panther Creative Inc. to develop permanent exhibits in the Centre. Chris Au, the Project Manager, oversaw and contributed directly to the interpretation, design, and production of the exhibits.
OBJECTIVE To present stories that anchor the visitor experience and act as a foundation to the HSNC’s programs on the environment presented with complementary scientific and Blackfoot (Kanai) perspectives.
A U D I E N C E The primary audience profiles include:
• residents(mostly)andvisitors;
• drop-invisitorgroups;mostoftenmulti-generational;
• first-visit,self-guidedadults;
• repeat-visitadultsfacilitatinganeducationalorattraction-basedexperiencefora small group of first-visit friends and family.
C H A L L E N G E S The client had prepared a well-thought-out Exhibit Guideline with interpretive themes, messages, and suggested media. The exhibit team followed the guidelines while expanding and enhancing the exhibit techniques to deliver practical and engaging presentations. The client and their Kanai advisory group provided invaluable feedback and direction to ensure the presentations were authentic. The lobby space in which the exhibit was primarily located served other purposes which needed to be accommodated.
Anchoring the visitor experience
Complementary scientific and cultural perspectives tell the
story of the unique Oldman River / Coulee system.
HSNC PROJECT PROFILE
vA
Page 2
Chr is Au
604 961 3472
Chr is .Au@DidaxDes ign .com
Helen Schuler Nature Centre
A P P R O A C H The exhibits utilize a mix of static and active display techniques for both media and visitors. This provides a range of levels of engagement for visitors of all ages and degrees of interest. Large scale photo murals are used to provide context while smaller photos reveal detail. Text is kept to a minimum to invite questions and visitor engagement with the staff and volunteers. Much of the text is presented in a handscript typeface to reflect the informal and spontaneous feel of interpersonal interaction.
M E T H O D O L O G Y Planning:
• Start-upclientandstakeholderworkshopsandsitevisits;
• OrientationandDiscoveryReportdocumentingdirections,resources,andcontent matrix.
Design:
• ConceptDesignwithscalemodelanddocumentationincludingthematicstructure,visitorwalkthroughandexhibit /graphicapproaches;
• DevelopmentDesignwithscaleddrawingsandmediaspecifications;
• ProductionDesignwithdetaileddrawings,mediascripts,andproductionart.
Production:
• Structurefabrication,graphicsproduction,mediaproduction,packingandshipping;
• Sitework,installation,assembly,andcommissioning.
O U T C O M E S Increased level of visitor engagement, and civic pride amongst area residents and staff.
Engaging displays included:
a. and b. repositionable kiosks;
c. river ribbon and floor
graphics;
d. cottonwood with roots;
e. exterior terrain model;
f. seasonal birds with sound;
g. dgital “Pepper's Ghost”
presentation;
h. pull-up panels of fishes;
i. life-under-water viewed
through an over-scaled
“goggle”;
j. sturgeon viewed “through
the floor” window (which was
actually a floor-mounted mirror
reflecting a concealed inverted
video monitor;
k. flip panels of cottonwood
tree characteristics.
a. c.
e. g.
i. k.
b. d.
f.
h. j.
UPPERRIVER
SPECIES
INTROPANEL
LOWERRIVER
SPECIES
COULEES
STURGEON VIEW
COTTONWOODTREES
UNDERWATERVIEW
RIVER RIBBON
FLOOR GRAPHICCOTTONWOOD
SPECIES
BIRDWATCHING
COTTONWOODCANOPY
[banners overhead]
DONORKIOSK
View to exteriorTopographic Model
RECEPTION
WELCOMEKIOSK
RECOGNITIONDISPLAY
BLACKFOOTLOBBY WALL
BLACKFOOTECOLOGY
LOBBY
TEMPORARYEXHIBIT
GALLERY
MAINENTRANCE
TOPOGRAPHICMODEL
Nature Centre Building
