ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I partially agree with Eli, but with this caveat:  architectural design and exhibit design have very different time horizons, especially during the early concept and schematic phases.  Exhibit designers need to worry about content, storylines, research, often working very closely with staff in an iterative process from which the visitor experience emerges.  There simply is nothing remotely similar in architecture — they want to get directly to design.  The upshot is that, if you start both teams off together, the architects will blow past the exhibits team, and you lose the opportunity to let exhibits help influence the building.  I would recommend bringing the exhibits group on first, or bring them both on but put the architects on hold until the visitor experience concept is defined. 

On Jan 10, 2014, at 8:56 AM, Eli Kuslansky wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> I firmly believe that as much of the development team in place from
> inception is best. That includes not only the architect and exhibit
> designer but if feasible media producers. Many architects have their own
> agenda, style, varying knowledge of exhibit design and its requirements,
> and less so of media and technology requirements. Barbara Punt from Punt
> Consulting in LA would know a lot about this as she was an owner's rep and
> project manager on many of these types of projects. The advantages of
> having the two type of firm starting from the concept development phase
> offsets any disadvantages.
> 
> As a side note here is our post on this process model: http://bit.ly/1hDPppc
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jan 9, 2014 at 6:11 PM, Beth Demke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>> institutions.
>> 
>> *****************************************************************************
>> 
>> I'm hoping to gain some insight from science centers that have recently
>> gone through a major expansion or new construction project. When working
>> with architects and exhibit consultants, is it preferable to include the
>> exhibit consultant as part of the architect's contract, or should these two
>> consultants be hired separately? There seem to be advantages and
>> disadvantages with either approach. An increase in costs may result from
>> including the exhibit consultant as a subcontract under the architect.
>> However, it may facilitate a more cohesive working relationship if they
>> work as a team under one contract. I would appreciate hearing about others'
>> experiences. If there is someone at your institutions that would be an
>> especially good resource, please email me privately with their contact info.
>> 
>> Thank you!
>> 
>> Beth Demke
>> Executive Director
>> Gateway to Science
>> 1810 Schafer Street, Suite 1
>> Bismarck, ND 58501-1218
>> 701.258.1975 (office)
>> 701.220.8356 (cell)
>> [log in to unmask]
>> http://gatewaytoscience.org
>> "Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not
>> information alone but also judgment, the manner in which information is
>> collected and used."
>> Carl Sagan (1934-1996), American astronomer, exobiologist and science
>> communicator
>> 
>> ***********************************************************************
>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
>> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>> 
>> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
>> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>> 
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> 
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> 
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
> 
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Chuck Howarth, Vice President
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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