Client: Discovery Place

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Re-imagine the original, park-based site of Discovery Place Nature as a space of connection that fundamentally alters the purpose of a "nature center"

Create authentic, relevant and unexpected moments that lead to reflection, intensify awareness, and inspire transformations in our relationship with the natural world. Hands On! worked with Discovery Place and a team of creative partners to concept a multifaceted experience in a new facility that blends indoor and outdoor interactions. Live exhibits, custom art installations, and spaces for sensory immersion provoke curiosity and help visitors of all ages build new perspectives. Our design includes Saplings—an area for under-5s—as well as Explore More Nature, a hub of interaction and collaboration about the ever-changing Discovery Place Nature site, and the larger environmental issues that face us on a local and global scale.

Scope:

Master planning, conceptual design, architectural advising, space planning, budgeting, live exhibits coordination (with Coyle & Caron Landscape Architects), fundraising documents