Museum of Surrey: TD Explore Zone
Overview
TD Explore Zone is a “learn-by-doing” children’s exhibit centered on the theme of sustainability. It focuses on Surrey’s natural features and its urban and agricultural economies.
Details
- Client
- City of Surrey
- Project
- Museum of Surrey, TD Explore Zone
- Size
- 2,000 sq. ft.
- Project Delivery
- Design-Build
- Scope
- Exhibit Design - Children
- Location
- Surrey, BC, CA
- Year Completed
- 2018
The
Goal
The new TD Explore Zone children’s exhibition at the Museum of Surrey is a key component of the Museum’s vision of being the “best people museum in Canada.” The museum asked R&P to create an exhibit that would be safe, bright, fun, durable and dynamic for children and adults alike. It would be interactive and activity based, utilizing interactive technology to supplement the exhibits. R&P was tasked with creating an exhibit that would attract young families to the museum, while maintaining the characters and storyline of the existing children’s gallery, resulting in a fully interactive, flexible, and relevant permanent attraction.
The
Design
R&P worked with Holman Exhibits as a design-build team to create the new TD Explore Zone. The gallery features playful characters and familiar environments of the City with stories both local and global. As a miniature version of Surrey, visitors are led by animal friends Raj (the Raccoon), Vida (the Frog), and Stella (the Jay) to learn how to take care of their great City. The gallery is bright, fun, and dynamic, with a special focus on sustainability.
The gallery is divided into six local Surrey environments: river, farmland, wetland, ocean, forest, and the city. Each zone features its own interactive exhibit—a climbable tree house with peek-through and viewers represents the forest; an orchard and farmhouse for farmland; a fishing boat complete with fishing rods and catchable magnetic fish and a scarf cannon remind visitors of the ocean; and a cityscape with streetlamps activated by hand cranks represents the City. An interactive bike, digital touch pads and an electric car are some of the highlights of this hand-on space for curious minds.
The
Result
The gallery is filled with excited children climbing the treehouse, picking fruit, and catching fish, while older children test their sustainability knowledge. It is a hub of activity, with opportunities for all ages and abilities. The new gallery is a center for the community; a space that will instill municipal pride and foster neighborhood connections.
