Otago Museum undergoing final stage of science-focused redevelopment

The Otago Museum in Dunedin has announced the closure of its Discovery World Tropical Forest to allow work to begin on the second stage of its $4 million redevelopment.

The phase two development will include the installation of 50 interactive science exhibits and a revamped Tropical Forest butterfly house.

The Otago Community Trust has shown its support for the development, with a $500,000 contribution to the project..

Otago Community Trust Chief Executive Barbara Bridger explains “this interactive, multicultural facility will offer amazing hands-on experiences that inspire curiosity about our world, and lifelong learning.

“It will certainly be something special for Otago.”

The Lion Foundation has also part-funded the project, donating $100,000 towards the 6 metre-high double helix-inspired slide.

Explaining this element of the attraction, a statement from the Museum advises “the slide will become one of the most recognised symbols of the new centre.

“Not only will it create a striking visual element, but it will challenge people with feelings of fear, expectation, achievement, accomplishment and success.”

Exhibition design company Story Inc are listed as original concept developers for the expansion, while Gibson Group are handling design development.

Otago Museum and the Logic Group make up the project management team and Millers Creative Design are lead contractors.

The Discovery World Tropical Forest will close on 24th July and is expected to reopen in December. The relaunched science centre will also incorporate the digitally interactive Beautiful Science Gallery and Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, with those additions completed in 2015 during the project's first phase.

The redeveloped centre will also be given a new name to be revealed at a later date.

Images: The Otago Museum's exterior (top) and the concept for ist second stage development (below). 

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