Museum of Surrey: TD Explore Zone
Overview
TD Explore Zone is a “learn-by-doing” children’s exhibit centred on the theme of sustainability, focusing on Surrey’s natural features and its urban and agricultural economies.
Details
- Client
- City of Surrey
- Project
- TD Explore Zone, Museum of Surrey
- Size
- 2,000 sq. ft.
- Scope
- Design-Build, Exhibit Design
- Location
- Surrey, BC, CA
- Year Completed
- 2018
- Budget
- $600,000
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 technology to augment the exhibits, but not overpower them. R&P was tasked with creating an exhibit that would attract young families to the museum while maintaining the characters and storyline within 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, brought together by familiar environments of the city with stories both local to global. As a miniature version of Surrey, visitors are led by animal friends Raj the Raccoon, Vida the Frog, and Stella the Jay. The gallery is bright, fun, and dynamic, with a sustainability focus so kids can learn how to take care of their great city.
The gallery is divided into six local Surrey environments: river, agriculture, wetlands, ocean, forests, 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 farm are suggestive of agriculture; a fishing boat with fishing rods and catchable magnetic fish and a scarf cannon remind visitors of the ocean; and a cityscape, complete 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
R&P staff had the pleasure of attending opening day, and the gallery was filled with excited children climbing the treehouse, picking fruit, and catching fish, while older children tested their sustainability knowledge. It was 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.
