Groenier Design ● Portfolio The National Great Rivers Museum was originally conceived by the Army Corps of Engineers as a typical visitor’s center. After much design work and a substantial funding campaign, it was transformed into a highly entertaining and educational museum. Paul Groenier was hired to consult in the year-long process to design and manage the historical research, artifact acquisition, content, editorial development and presentation and bid packages for the $3.4-million exhibition hall, theater and tour of the locks.
Transcript
Groenier Design ● Portfolio
The National Great Rivers Museum was originally conceived by the Army Corps of Engineers as a typical visitor’s center. After much design work and a substantial funding campaign, it was transformed into a highly entertaining and educational museum. Paul Groenier was hired to consult in the year-long process to design and manage the historical research, artifact acquisition, content, editorial development and presentation and bid packages for the $3.4-million exhibition hall, theater and tour of the locks.
PORTFOLIO The Biltmore House in Asheville, N.C. embarked on a $18.6-million project to further enhance the visitors’ experience for 7 buildings on the immense estate. Paul Groenier produced exhibition designs and bid packages for the creation of these facilities. Historical artifacts, reproductions and interactive media were utilized by Paul Groenier as part of designing this expansion campaign.
The drawings below were created for the Minnetrista Cultural Center as a part of the effort by Paul Groenier to develop, design and install history, art and science exhibitions for their 8000 ft.2 state-of-the-art galleries dedicated to the enjoyment and education of visitors. Paul Groenier was also responsible for research, acquisition and display of artifacts from museums and collectors nationwide.
More examples from the Groenier Design portfolio can be found at www.groenierdesign.com
PORTFOLIO
Paul Groenier created over 300 drawings in the design of the new Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. These are just a sampling from this year-long project. The overall layout view below shows the placement of visual interest features that draw visitors through the exhibition space. Paul Groenier assisted in object selection and placement, along with designing the graphics, case and lighting in order to influence visitor flow through the galleries. Below is the layout design for the Changing Exhibition Hall and the World Cultures Hall. Layout designs and details were also created for the Hall of Ancient Life, the Hall of the People of Oklahoma and the Hall of Natural Wonders. The design below is 6,000 of the 32,000 square feet designed by Paul Groenier.
continued - PORTFOLIO - Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Below are three of many drawings of the Hall of World Cultures object cases ranging from concept drawings through detail drawings.
continued - Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
These Hall of Ancient Life graphics panels utilize backlighting to highlight graphics in a fairly low light level. They are alsodesigned to allow for changes to be made in the graphics when necessary.
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1’ 1”
1’ 2
(P) Paleozoic - Speciman ID Railing Panel Colors may differ from actual.
Black White
(P) PMS 5483
(P) PMS 4525
(P) PMS 5483
(P) PMS 4525
(P) PMS 5483
Items in black occur in both Paleozoic and Cenozoic Areas
(C) Cenozoic - Speciman ID Railing Panel Colors will differ from actual.
(P) PMS 5445
(C) PMS 730
Stempel SchneiderBold 46pts./36lead.
Stempel SchneiderMedium 24/36
Stempel SchneiderMedium 74
(C) PMS 730
(C) PMS 5445
(C) PMS 5445
(C) PMS 730
Kabel Bold18/24
Kabel Medium24/24
Stempel SchneiderMedium 28/36
(C) PMS 4525
Permian Period
Lowland Community
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mollit anim fup simil tempor elit. I nu my an
plusmode tempor in cidunt ut labore et dolore. Oh
magna alip quam erat volu pat magna alip volu pat
manga alip.
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sedeserunt mollit anim fup simil tempor. I peddiam non nu my an plusmode.
1’ 1”
1’ 2
PALEOZOIC ERA
PALEOZOIC ERA
PMS 5761/2" Black Border
5483
Colors may differ from actual
731
83
31
PMS 156
(P)
PMS 554
(P) Paleozoic - Scene Setter Railing Panel
(C) Cenozoic - Scene Setter Railing Panel Colors will differ from actual
Items in black occur in both Paleozoic and Cenozoic Areas
Below is an overview of a 35-page Microsoft Project document showing 33 staffing resources that delineated over 1000separate tasks and subtasks. Other administrative tasks included the writing and implementation of contracts and budgets.
Hall of the People of Oklahoma, Hall of Natural Wonders and Hall of Ancient Life
Task Name Start Finish
PreliminaryObject andArtifact
Mon 5/31 Thu 7/15
FinalObject andArtifact
Fri 7/16 Fri 7/30
PreliminaryCopy
Mon 5/31 Thu 7/15
Final Copy Fri 7/16 Fri 7/30
Illustrationand PhotoAcquisition
Mon 5/31 Thu 10/28
ConceptualDesigns
Mon 5/31 Tue 8/31
FabricationDrawings
Wed 6/30 Fri 10/29
Fabrication Thu 7/15 Wed 3/1
Installation Wed 6/2 Tue 3/14
Punch List Wed 3/15 Thu 4/13
5/31 7/15
Preliminary Object and Artifact Lists
7/16 7/30
Final Object and Artifact Lists
5/31 7/15
Preliminary Copy
7/16 7/30
Final Copy
5/31 10/28
Illustration and Photo Acquisition
5/31 8/31
Conceptual Designs
6/30 10/29
Fabrication Drawings
7/15 3/1
Fabrication
6/2 3/14
Installation
3/15 4/13
Punch List
y June July August September October November December January February March April
Ramifications of Recycling
Reluctant Landfiller
PIT InteractiveGroceryCheck-out
10 feet
Differenceof One
Conservation Flip Cards
Stream SaverStream Dynamics
What's a Tree Done for Me Lately?
ZooRecycles
Aquaria
Microscopes Tree
Intro
TimeCraftEntrance
Floor Plan page 3
ZooArk
PartnersDept. ofCons.
PORTFOLIO
St. Louis Zoo - Paul Groenier was asked to redesign Ecology Hall. His proposal was chosen over others from competingexhibits firms. The tree in the center sets the scene for visually exciting interactive exhibits that encourage conservation.
Plant Trimmings
Corrigated Cardboard
Aluminum
# trees cubic ft.
92348 75689
Plastic Bottles
Steel Cans
GlassOffice Paper
Motor OilTiresEtc.
AtOffice
Recycling
AtHome
Recycling
AtSchool
Recycling
The Zoo Recycles
Make a Str
eam
Prevent Erosion
Stream Dynamics
StreamDynamics
StreamDynamics
1'-0"
Visitors can view the types of itemsthat the Zoo recycles.
Option: To encourage visitors torecycle, each side could be dedicated to one of the following: home, school and office recycling.A quiz could show visitors the percentage of materials that they could personally be recycling.
Since visitors sometimescome from the direction of the stream and others come from the touch tank area, two similarinstruction panels aredisplayed on both ends.
Option: Different information could be displayed on each panel.
GroceryCheck-out
1. Scan Gr
oceries
2. See wha
t you can
do.
Grocery Store Check-out
1. Put ite
m on pad
2. Test yo
ur knowled
ge
InfoBankInfo Bank
(PIT Tag Interactive)
1'-0"
These two exhibits utilize the existingconservation desk with a center hexagonal case adequate for the housing of the necessary electronic hardware.
Option: If objects are getting too much wear and tear, an electronic wand could be used to scan permanently attached objects on shelves.
continued - PORTFOLIO St. Louis Zoo
The entrance to the TimeCraft Theater invites visitors to "time travel" by using lights, mirrors and motion. Once in the theater,the audience participates by making decisions on various conservation issues and then travels "into the future" to see how itis affected by their actions.
Below are four of the fifteen exhibits about ecology designed by Paul Groenier that encourage visitors to conserve resources.
PORTFOLIO
Virginia Living Museum - As a team member, Paul Groenier created concepts for the exhibit below as well as graphicdesigns for all of the 12 exhibitions he developed as Curator of Exhibits at the museum. He also assisted in exhibit fabrication,installation and maintenance efforts. Shown here is just a sampling of his work. Paul Groenier journeyed into the depths of alimestone quarry to find the dinosaur fossil tracks he used in the design of this interactive exhibit. Visitors can measure the stridesleft by this prehistoric animal in order to determine its size and the speed at which the dinosaur was running.
A darkened backyard with a folding lounge chair, crickets chirping and a pair of binoculars set the scene for the exhibit"Anyone Can Be a Backyard Astronomer." Interactive components included viewing a mini-planetarium, observing the sunthrough a telescope, demonstrating how a sundial works and telling time with your shadow.
continued - PORTFOLIO Virginia Living Museum
Different rooms throughout a typical home and its surrounding yard showed what visitors could do to help save the environ-ment in "Why Waste a Good Planet?" Graphic panels that related to this theme were also placed throughout the museum.Paul Groenier proposed the idea of traveling this exhibit and therefore designed it to be easily crated for transport. After thisexhibit was retired from the Virginia Living Museum, it traveled nationally, becoming a source of revenue for the museum.
PORTFOLIO
St. Louis Science Center - Shown on the next three pages are just a few of over one hundred exhibit stations PaulGroenier developed, designed and had fabricated while at the Science Center.
The ground-breaking "Science Park" was funded by the National Science Foundation as a prototype to be copied by otherscience centers across the nation. Paul Groenier designed the general layout of the park as well as most of the exhibits,working as part of a team with educators and curators. Before the prototypic designs were finalized, they were subjected tothorough evaluations in order to ensure that the educational objectives were satisfied. Visitors can learn about a variety ofbasic scientific principles by interacting with these outdoor, hands-on exhibits.
continued - PORTFOLIO St. Louis Science Center
As a member of the "Earthquake!" exhibit team that included educators, designers, scientists and curators, Paul Groenierdeveloped the general layout and design of this exhibit. He created 12 pages of drawings with 6 pages of typewritten specifi-cations for the fabricators. He also checked the progress of fabrication in order to ensure a high standard of construction.
"Earthquake!" features seven interactive components, including a shake platform which lets visitors feel an earthquake atvarious Richter scale levels. Also displayed are touch-screen computers and a seismometer that registers visitors' footsteps.
continued - PORTFOLIO St. Louis Science Center
As the design member of the Discovery Room team that included educators and curators, Paul Groenier developed the generallayout, the interior design, exhibit design and furniture design of this innovative and highly interactive environment. Withover 300 pages in his development notebook, he created a model of the cave and adobe dwelling with36 pages of drawings and24 pages of written specifications for the fabricators. He also checked the progress of fabrication to ensure constructionwas up to his standards. Once the Discovery Room was completed, any modification and upgrading of exhibits weredeveloped and designed by Paul Groenier as well.
In the Discovery Room, kids can explore a limestone cave, build an arch, create a gear train, make electrical circuits, live like thepueblo culture, learn about anatomy and disabilities dressed as a doctor, dig for fossils, or participate in three dozen otherinteractive activities.
