CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM
Chattanooga, TN
Joining in an effort to revitalize Chattanooga’s urban riverfront, SKOLNICK led the conceptual planning, site selection, and complete architectural and exhibition design for the award-winning Creative Discovery Museum. Since opening, attendance at the CDM has increased year after year, generating tourist dollars and spearheading the growth of retail and pedestrian activity in what was once an abandoned downtown area.
Services
Institutional Programming
Architectural Design
Exhibit Design
Evaluation + Prototyping
Coordination + Development of Media Content
Size
43,000 sf
Awards
Society for Environmental Graphic Design
Honor Award
SIGNATURE TOWER
As the second cultural destination to be built as part of a major urban renewal project for the Chattanooga Riverfront, the building had to be iconic. Its signature tower, visible from the nearby interstate highway, commands attention and serves as a gateway to the downtown area.
CULTURE AS CATALYST
The museum’s popularity among local residents was a catalyst that spurred extensive development and revitalization along downtown Chattanooga’s commercial corridor in subsequent years. The exuberant, brightly colored forms of the building allude to the fun to be had within. Dozens of interactive exhibits exploring the arts and sciences trigger the imagination, creativity, and curiosity of children from toddlers to 12-year-olds.
“SKOLNICK was instrumental in turning the dream of a children’s museum for Chattanooga into a reality. They worked from the outset to select a site and design a building and exhibits which would become a center for family education and a beacon for tourists. SKOLNICK’s wonderful design has resulted in a distinctive and joyful building that has become a favorite downtown landmark.
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