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Canada

1867 Yonge Street
Suite 1100
Toronto, ON
M4S 1Y5
+1 416.480.2020

United States

530 Seventh Avenue
M2 - Unit 20
New York, NY
10018
+1 212.283.3030

General Info

Have a question? Let's chat.
E-mail info@designrp.com

New Business

Contact: Niki Reich, Principal
Phone +1 416.480.2020 x226
E-mail nreich@designrp.com

Work With Us

Interested in joining our team?
E-mail careers@designrp.com

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Contact us

Canada

1867 Yonge Street
Suite 1100
Toronto, ON
M4S 1Y5
+1 416.480.2020

United States

530 Seventh Avenue
M2 - Unit 20
New York, NY
10018
+1 212.283.3030

General Info

Have a question? Let's chat.
E-mail info@designrp.com

New Business

Contact Niki Reich, Principal
Phone +1 416.480.2020 x226
E-mail nreich@designrp.com

Work With Us

Interested in joining our team?
E-mail careers@designrp.com

Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski

Delaware Museum of Nature & Science

Overview

Delaware Museum of Nature and Science is an institution transformed with improved retail, cafe, and common spaces that have enhanced the overall visitor experience.

Details

Client
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Project
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Size
8,800 sq. ft.
Scope
Retail & Branding Experience, Wayfinding & Donor Recognition
Location
Wilmington, DE, USA
Year Completed
2022

Impact

Attendance increase 1 year after reopening (from last full operational year prior to closure)
37%

The
Goal

After developing the Museum’s Interpretive Master Plan, and the design of their permanent exhibits, R&P helped complete the Museum’s metamorphosis with the re-design of their retail, café and common spaces. The new spaces reflect the Museum’s new image as a major community hub with bright, inviting, and engaging spaces.

Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski

The
Design

The Café and Retail spaces were redesigned as extensions of an improved guest experience.

The Café, nicknamed the “Rest, Relax and Recharge” space, is about 1,000 sq ft of gallery space designed to embody the rejuvenating spirit of the outdoors, while providing the visitor a place to have a break before resuming, beginning, or completing their museum journey. Wrap-around graphics of a forest environment decorate the walls, creating a restful and invigorating space inspired by nature. The former gallery space has been redesigned to accommodate a new point-of-sale counter for drinks, snacks and ready-made lunches as well as a seating area that is visible and accessible from the Paleo Zone gallery. It has been designed to be suitable to double as a gallery program or event rental space.

The existing gift shop was refreshed with new colorful nature-themed graphics on and surrounding the store windows. The gift shop point-of-sales counter was redesigned with a natural wood and stone materials palette and is complete with an

integrated small products display to encourage impulse purchases. The counter was positioned to back onto the museum ticket and welcome desk allowing for flexibility in staffing and uses.

The wayfinding and donor recognition systems also required redesign to reflect the revitalized new look and feel of the museum. Bright, distinct, and vibrant, these new systems support the museum’s new brand and meets accessibility standards. New exterior and interior signs were designed to be easily seen by visitors with a unique shape reflecting the refreshed exterior building sign. The spacious glass vestibule is transformed into an energetic under-water scene where a hierarchy of donor names are prominently displayed. All the new signs embody the vibrant character of the natural environments featured inside the Museum, and direct visitors with ease to the full visitor experience the new museum has to offer.

The
Result

The new Café and Retail spaces are important parts of the overall redesign of the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, creating a more welcoming visitor experience. The design of these spaces invites the visitor to linger, purchase, rest, and extend their visit, resulting in a more fulfilling guest experience.

Delaware Museum of Nature & Science

Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski

Details

Client
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Project
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Size
8,800 sq. ft.
Scope
Retail & Branding Experience, Wayfinding & Donor Recognition
Location
Wilmington, DE, USA
Year Completed
2022

Overview

Delaware Museum of Nature and Science is an institution transformed with improved retail, cafe, and common spaces that have enhanced the overall visitor experience.

Impact

Attendance increase 1 year after reopening (from last full operational year prior to closure)
37%

The
Goal

After developing the Museum’s Interpretive Master Plan, and the design of their permanent exhibits, R&P helped complete the Museum’s metamorphosis with the re-design of their retail, café and common spaces. The new spaces reflect the Museum’s new image as a major community hub with bright, inviting, and engaging spaces.

Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski

The
Design

The Café and Retail spaces were redesigned as extensions of an improved guest experience.

The Café, nicknamed the “Rest, Relax and Recharge” space, is about 1,000 sq ft of gallery space designed to embody the rejuvenating spirit of the outdoors, while providing the visitor a place to have a break before resuming, beginning, or completing their museum journey. Wrap-around graphics of a forest environment decorate the walls, creating a restful and invigorating space inspired by nature. The former gallery space has been redesigned to accommodate a new point-of-sale counter for drinks, snacks and ready-made lunches as well as a seating area that is visible and accessible from the Paleo Zone gallery. It has been designed to be suitable to double as a gallery program or event rental space.

The existing gift shop was refreshed with new colorful nature-themed graphics on and surrounding the store windows. The gift shop point-of-sales counter was redesigned with a natural wood and stone materials palette and is complete with an

integrated small products display to encourage impulse purchases. The counter was positioned to back onto the museum ticket and welcome desk allowing for flexibility in staffing and uses.

The wayfinding and donor recognition systems also required redesign to reflect the revitalized new look and feel of the museum. Bright, distinct, and vibrant, these new systems support the museum’s new brand and meets accessibility standards. New exterior and interior signs were designed to be easily seen by visitors with a unique shape reflecting the refreshed exterior building sign. The spacious glass vestibule is transformed into an energetic under-water scene where a hierarchy of donor names are prominently displayed. All the new signs embody the vibrant character of the natural environments featured inside the Museum, and direct visitors with ease to the full visitor experience the new museum has to offer.

Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski

The
Result

The new Café and Retail spaces are important parts of the overall redesign of the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, creating a more welcoming visitor experience. The design of these spaces invites the visitor to linger, purchase, rest, and extend their visit, resulting in a more fulfilling guest experience.

Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
Photo courtesy of Francis Dzikowski
ProjectsDelaware Museum of Nature & Science