Museum Unveils New Designs for Campus Reinvention
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is moving forward with the first phase of its bold and innovative plan to renovate and expand its campus in Cleveland’s University Circle as part of its Centennial Campaign. The Museum’s Board of Trustees has approved schematic designs created in collaboration by a leading team of architects, engineers, green building experts and exhibit designers that realize the ambitious vision for the future Museum. The new Museum will more fully integrate science and nature into the visitor experience, and pioneer new approaches for infusing real science into science education. The building itself will be a model of sustainable building technology. New exhibition galleries will showcase the world-renowned scientific research of Museum curators and highlight the Museum's vast collections to create a powerful and engaging experience that inspires students and people of all ages to dive into science, connect with nature and explore the natural world.
The $150 million renovation and expansion project will transform and reinvent the Museum by 2020—100 years after the institution was founded. Construction will begin in March on a new outdoor Perkins Wildlife Center—one of the most popular of the Museum’s exhibits and home to the Museum’s live Ohio animals and native plants. In the coming year, Phase I will also include the construction of several key visitor amenities, including a parking garage with 300 spaces on three levels and a landscaped west garden that will serve as a gateway to the University Circle cultural district from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
“The amazing treasures held within our Museum and our mission to improve science education compel us to undertake this major transformation of our facilities and exhibits,” said Dr. Evalyn Gates, executive director and CEO. “We are thrilled to launch the project this spring and begin realizing our plans for creating a dynamic new Museum that will play a critical role in building for the future of our community. Our staff, campaign leadership team and project architects, engineers and designers have worked together to craft plans that will strengthen our education programs, support and showcase the important work of our researchers, and offer the community immersive spaces for lifelong learning.”
See renderings of the new designs in our Photo Gallery
We invite you to stay informed about this exciting future. Keep abreast of the details of our design planning, fundraising and construction through our Centennial Campaign Blog
Press Links
06/15/2015 -
The Plain Dealer: Museum Breaks Ground on Phase I of Expansion
05/07/2015 -
The Plain Dealer: Green Guardians Save Native Wildflowers
04/20/2015 -
The Architect's Newspaper
03/31/2015 -
Cleveland Foundation Announces Grant
03/19/2015 -
The Plain Dealer: Design Review Approval
02/28/2015 -
The Plain Dealer: Editorial
02/20/2015 -
The Plain Dealer: Making the Case
02/20/2015 -
The Plain Dealer: First Look
02/20/2015 -
Phase 1 Photo Gallery
02/20/2015 -
Phase 1 Press Release
03/07/2014 -
Project Team Press Release