Page 35 - Muskoka Lakes Museum, Proposal from TCI

Upper Canada Village Discovery Centre
Client
St. Lawrence Park Commission
Location
Morrisburg, ON, CA
Project Overview
Year Completed
June 2011
Budget
$ 39 million
Size
8,000 sq.ft
Scope
Design Team Management, Architecture, interior Design, Wayfinding
We overcame these challenges by incorporating state-of-the-art, immersive, educational and fun AV interactives into the design. A 13-minute immersive experience tailored to the Battle of Crysler’s Farm tells the story of the site, which was lost when the St. Lawrence Seaway was flooded. Through a cooperative game, an interactive multi-touch table tells the story of how the village came into existence. It also imparts historic information onto the user and can accommodate up to 8 people simultaneously.
Reich&Petch is the firm responsible for the exhibit design, including programming, master planning, design development, and space planning for the new Visitor Centre at Upper Canada Village.
The Centre houses two new permanent exhibits that engage visitors, provide experiences that enhance the interpretation on site by live presenters, and display selected pieces from the Commission’s 7,000+ artifact collection. Additionally, the Centre entices visitors to shop at the retail/gift store, and provides them with a welcome reception/hosting/ food-service area, ticketing operation and storage.
The exterior interpretive displays can be enjoyed on foot or by riding the Commission’s toy train ride that portrays the story of current monuments and landmarks adjacent to Upper Canada Village and forming the Commission’s Heritage Park (the St. Lawrence River, War of 1812 Battle site, the U.S. communities across the river).
A major challenge was to give context to the village and to create a 150+ year time period without duplicating the on-site experience. Another challenge is the intense competition for visitors in a youth-driven market and the site’s close proximity to Ottawa which has a high density of renowned museums and attractions.
35 TCI Management Consultants
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