Client:

Science Museum of Virginia

Architects:

Teng & Associates, Inc.

Engineers:

Teng & Associates, Inc.

Category:

Planning and Analysis

Two years ago, the Science Museum of Virginia acquired a 13-acre site adjacent to the museum. Not only was the site abandoned, train tracks separated the two properties. To integrate the sites and create a museum campus that would include the Children's Museum of Richmond and the Virginia Aviation Museum, Chicago's Teng Associates developed the Discovery Park Master Plan.

After consulting with science center directors in Asia, Europe and the United States as well as future Discovery Park managers, the landscape architect devised a master plan that exemplifies the best potential of landscape design - not only as an educational environment, but as an essential educational element.

To wit: Discovery Park will contain learning areas in a series of 'Outdoor Rooms' through pastoral enclaves, gardens, wetlands, groves, a high tree canopy and open paths that provide serenity as well as security. Each enclave will provide a hands-on learning experience that requires minimal staff assistance. Various techniques of crime prevention using environmental design throughout the site create a distinct character at each of the park's three entrances while providing enough clearance for necessary supervision.

The result? A flexible but holistic educational and recreational park.