Delaware Museum of Nature & Sciences

Originally constructed in the 1970s, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science underwent a comprehensive renovation to modernize its exhibit spaces while adapting the existing structure to support a new generation of interactive displays and suspended exhibit elements. We focused on evaluating the existing second-floor framing for suspended exhibits and designing two new wall openings. As the project progressed, the scope expanded significantly to address the evolving structural demands of the museum’s redesigned galleries.

An analysis was performed on the existing building structure and designed modifications to support a wide range of exhibit and building systems. The work included a custom steel support armature for a suspended T. rex skull, structural framing for exhibit trees, ceiling support for suspended audiovisual equipment and tent exhibits, support for operable glass partitions, and revisions to mechanical equipment foundations, including chiller and fire pump pads. The structural drawings were updated throughout the project to reflect exhibit revisions and ensure the existing 1970s structure could safely accommodate the museum’s new interactive exhibits while minimizing impacts on the original building.