Hands-on Science
Marcy Marro,
Posted
01/01/2010
Science
comes alive at the 9,300-square foot (864-m2) Charles and Linda
Williams Children's Museum addition to the 86,000-square-foot
(7,989-m2) Museum oArts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The addition is light and airy with modern architecture and a wow
factor designed to appeal to young kids. The children's museum
opened November 21, 2008, and is the only hands-on science center
between Jacksonville and Orlando. Featuring 15 hands-on exhibits,
designed by Hands On! Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla., the museum
encourages development of scientific reasoning in children. The
exhibitions focus on simple science and modern technology, with
kids being able to build a racecar, play a laser harp, or find out
what it takes to become a doctor.
According to
David Ogle, RA, LEED AP, NCARB, principal at Hawkins, Hall &
Ogle Architects Inc., Daytona Beach, the goal was to create a
totally new look for the museum that has historically been designed
around a grid, or modular layout, which resulted in a very
homogenous appearance. "The museum wanted this project to stand out
and speak to the intended use of the building, which is a learning
environment for children."
Alcoa Architectural Products, Eastman, Ga., supplied 4,500 square
feet (418 m2) of 0.16-inch (4-mm) Reynobond Aluminum Composite
Material panels with a PE Core in Custom Yellow on the exterior
façade of the addition; 450 square feet (42 m2) of 0.16-inch
Reynobond ACM, PE Core in Konig Blue for the underside of the
canopy and soffits; and 450 square feet of 0.16-inch Reynobond
ACM,PE Core in Brite Red for the columns. Each panel had a distinct
curved radius, which was hand-rolled and then packed into
custom-built crates with a cradle-type construction so they would
maintain their radius during shipping.
"The metal panels
were chosen for a 'slick, high-tech' look, which is in sharp
contrast to the painted concrete block that dominates the rest of
the museum," Ogle said. "The three primary colors-yellow, red and
blue-were to signify that the building was intended for small
children in a learning environment, and to provide stark contrast
to the muted colors used on the rest of the museum."
Located on a 90-acre (36-hectare) Florida preserve, the MOAS is a
Smithsonian-affiliated museum housing some 30,000 objects ranging
from large collections of Cuban and Chinese art, to Americana and
ancient animal bones. The children's museum was funded by a
donation from Charles and Linda Williams, Ormand Beach, Fla.; the
Volusia County Ecological, Cultural, Heritage and Outdoors program;
and contributions from other individuals, civic organizations and
businesses.
Charles and Linda Williams Children's Museum at the Museum
of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Architect: Hawkins, Hall & Ogle Architects Inc., Daytona
Beach
General contractor: Hall Construction Co., Daytona Beach
Exhibit designer: Hands On! Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla.
Panel fabricator/installer: The Miller- Clapperton Partnership
Inc., Austell, Ga.
Metal wall panels: Alcoa Architectural Products, Eastman, Ga.,
www.alcoaarchitecturalproducts.com
www.alcoaarchitecturalproducts.com