Photo courtesy of Boise Watershed, Brondon Loureiro

The WaterShed Exhibits

Overview

The WaterShed, an education center in the City of Boise, transformed itself to become the first climate and water science center in the USA, overhauling its exhibits to meet the challenges of educating and engaging its community on an increasingly precious resource.

Client: The City of Boise
Project: The WaterShed Exhibits
Size: 6,500 sq. ft.

Scope: Exhibit Design - Children
Location: Boise, ID, USA
Year Completed: 2025

The
Goal

Previously renovated in 2008, the WaterShed’s technology-based exhibits were showing wear and age. The center’s goals are to reimagine the exhibits to spark inquiry and inspire visitors to think about local challenges and solutions, while connecting at-home issues to the global problem of climate change, especially relevant due to the City’s high desert climate zone. The refreshed gallery focuses on innovation and community action toward a resilient future, informing visitors about local climate change impacts and solutions, and inspired to take a personal role in water conservation.

Like so many communities across our nation, our water source is threatened by Climate Change, but our center’s messages must resonate with local audiences and remain positive.Cindy Busche, Executive Director

Photo courtesy of Boise Watershed, Brondon Loureiro

The
Design

Together with the City of Boise, R&P led an interpretative planning process that facilitated the design of a multi-step visitor journey in understanding the value of water, where it comes from, what happens when you flush, how the water source is threatened by climate change, and what the Boise community and its citizens can do about it. With these six themes as guiding principles, the center is being redesigned to target families with children and school groups, using colorful illustrative graphics, low-tech movable interactive mechanics, and immersive media experiences. These important core messages will be delivered through fun, hands-on, and engaging exhibits.

The
Result

The new WaterShed education center opened with wide popular acclaim to the public in 2025.

The WaterShed Exhibits

Photo courtesy of Boise Watershed, Brondon Loureiro

Client: The City of Boise
Project: The WaterShed Exhibits
Size: 6,500 sq. ft.
Scope: Exhibit Design - Children
Location: Boise, ID, USA
Year Completed: 2025

Overview

The
Goal

Photo courtesy of Boise Watershed, Brondon Loureiro

Like so many communities across our nation, our water source is threatened by Climate Change, but our center’s messages must resonate with local audiences and remain positive.Cindy Busche, Executive Director