Charlotte City Council is going to be renovating for Discovery Place Science Museum. This renovation was just approved with New York based Diller Scofidio + Renfro and local firm Jenkins-Peer Architects taking on the task. The $700,000 master plan will overhaul the museum with a timeline expected to take about 18 months.
Discovery Place was first opened in 1981 and has been delighting children and adults alike since they first opened the doors. They are leaders in STEM education for adults and children. The museum has outreach programs, classes, workshops and more. They cater to individuals, families, groups, field trips and even rent out the museum for special events.
The main location is the one up for the renovation. There are three other partner museums that are a part of Discovery Place. Discovery Place Nature, Discovery Place Kids Rockingham and Discovery Place Kids Huntersville round out the museum quartet.
Located at Sixth and Tryon Streets, Discovery Place just underwent a massive $31.6 million renovation in 2010. That renovation left the buildings in a confused state with multiple elevators and lobbies that don’t connect. The building is not very inviting and is running out of space.
The city has selected New York-based Diller Scofidio + Renfro to serve as design architect. They will partner with Charlotte firm Jenkins•Peer Architects who will act as architect of record. Together the firms will oversee a team that will create a master plan and conceptual design to imagine the future of one of the Carolinas’ premiere cultural attractions.
The plan and design will include solutions to keep the facility financially sound and determine a budget for a major overhaul of the building. They will re-vamp the main entrance to make the space more inviting and help with curb appeal. The renovation is part of the North Tryon Vision Plan meant to revitalize North Tryon Street.
There will be workshops and forums for the community and key stakeholders to have dialogue about what we need in the new space. Trends and models will be analyzed and future needs and opportunities will be planned for. Discovery Place will continue to be one of the top museums in the country for STEM education.
If you are interested in a home in the Charlotte area so you can be closer to Discovery Place, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings on our website here.