How museums and aquariums can modernize aging facilities, protect operations, and invest more strategically in visitor experience.
Author | Dan Costello, AIA
Senior Architect, Dills Architects
Cultural buildings, Aquariums especially, are some of the most sensitive and expensive building types to produce. Over time, these facilities become a critical part of a City’s economic and cultural infrastructure, and public identity. Many existing cultural facilities are legacy projects with strong generational ties to their communities, donors, and patrons.
When a legacy cultural building needs to be updated it can be daunting. These facilities are typically 25 years or older, many building support systems have reached their useful life, and exhibits and public spaces do not meet current expectations for physical and digital experiences. Deciding how to approach the project can involve questions around the impacts to on-going operations and revenue, continuity of programs and memberships, and the safety and well-being of exhibits, animals, and collections. The project approach needs to consider initial capital expenses and life-cycle costs, weighing new facilities that can cost more than double that of a renewal project approach.
RENEWAL DESIGN STRATEGY |
Renewal projects focus on decreasing capital investment, prioritizing continuity of operations, and creating new contemporary features and public amenities. For legacy cultural facilities, a renewal project approach can add much needed space, reinvigorate existing areas, reprogram revenue and retail, develop contemporary exhibits, and replace aging facility infrastructure with state-of-the-art support systems. A renewal approach often adapts aging spaces to new contemporary uses, and reconnects public spaces to increase mobility and access to outdoor programs and landscapes.
PHASING THE RENEWAL |
A renewal project often involves a large feature addition that creates excitement and interest in new offerings, while serving to relocate other program areas of the facility when they are renovated or repurposed. Renewal projects are often done in 3 to 4 phases, with some areas being done concurrently to shorten construction times and maintain operations. Each phase may involve other smaller additions, planned adaptive reuse of outdated programs and space, and the replacement of critical facility, exhibit, and life support systems for animals.
For existing cultural facilities, a renewal approach uniquely supports the institution’s
mission, legacy, and future public impact. Three factors to consider:
1 | Weigh the higher capital cost of new construction against a renewal approach that directs investment where it counts most: advancing the institution’s mission, deepening public connection, and elevating the visitor experience.
2 | Develop a project design strategy that phases the work for continuity of operations, ongoing revenue, safety and well-being of collections and animals, and creates excitement for the renewal of a legacy cultural building.
3 | Enable earlier action to gain momentum and support from municipal partners, community stakeholders, donors, and program sponsors.
ECONOMICS + EXPERIENCE |
The economics of renewal projects allows for greater investment in the visitor experience. Lower capital expense for facilities unlocks the ability to invest in new public space, amenities, contemporary physical and digital exhibits, and state-of-the-art revenue programs. In turn, these types of investments attract philanthropy, corporate sponsorships, membership, and ensures an increase in future visitation. Ultimately, a renewal project approach is a strategy that directs investment to an institution’s future and mission to inspire, educate, and connect people to incredible experiences.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Dan Costello, AIA is a Senior Architect at Dills Architects with experience in cultural, civic, and complex public-facing projects. He brings over 25 years of experience in animal care, science, and highly technical facility design.
FAQ
1 | What should organizations look for in an architect for aquarium renewal or renovation?
An architect for aquarium renewal should understand how to modernize a complex cultural facility while protecting ongoing operations, visitor experience, life support systems, animal well-being, and long-term mission. A strong renewal strategy also helps balance capital cost, phasing, and future flexibility so the institution can evolve without losing momentum.
2 | Why would a museum or aquarium choose renewal instead of building new?
Renewal can reduce capital cost while directing more investment into the visitor experience, exhibits, amenities, and mission-driven improvements. The blog notes that a new facility can cost more than double a renewal approach.
3 | How can a cultural building stay open during a major renovation?
Many renewal projects are phased so operations can continue while work happens in stages. This approach helps protect revenue, memberships, programs, and the safety of collections or animals during construction.
4 | What does phased renewal mean for a museum or aquarium project?
Phased renewal means the project is completed in planned stages, often over three to four phases. A large feature addition may be used to create excitement, relocate programs, and support renovation or repurposing of older spaces.
5 | What improvements can a renewal project bring to a cultural facility?
A renewal project can add space, modernize infrastructure, improve mobility and access, create new public amenities, refresh exhibits, and strengthen revenue and retail areas. It can also help legacy institutions stay relevant for future visitors, donors, and community partners.