Delivering on the promise of a Roto Concept Design from 2014, Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) set out to reinvent its second floor To Fly aviation-themed gallery in 2019. As sole designer and fabricator, Roto worked with MODS to create a totally new vision, built around a central, ultra-flexible makerspace in the center of the interactive gallery. The design also includes brand new visitor experiences, updates to existing audience favorites, and a fresh new design aesthetic.
Highlights
- New highly-interactive design/build/test exhibits
- Devoted maker/program space with flexible work areas, storage, and AV
- Environmental design overhaul to integrate old and new portions of the gallery
- Clever integration of new interactivity into existing displays
Rather than make rigid assumptions about specific programming that may occur for years to come inside the future makerspace, Roto worked directly with the museum staff and education teams to design a totally flexible workspace, called The Hangar. Clean, modern glass walls create a dedicated space that maintains visibility and openness, while versatile utilities, storage, and display solutions provide ample opportunities for functional use and visitor engagement. The Hangar is host to a wide variety of experiences and programs, across all disciplines and ages.
In addition to the new makerspace, Roto reimagined the interactive experiences across the entire 7,000+ square feet of the gallery, adding innovative interactivity to popular existing displays (like a riveting activity on the side of the full-scale DC-9 cockpit) and creating several new exhibits for open-ended STEM exploration. Many of the new exhibits feature intentionally portable designs, so educators and staff can pull them into the makerspace or take them out to the outdoor courtyard for extended experiences and programs. |
Drawing the entire To Fly experience together, updated graphic and environmental designs refresh the gallery aesthetic and create a bold new energy. Large vivid floor graphics with inspiring words and quotes, pops of energetic color, and an overall bright new look help this popular aviation gallery take off into its next exciting chapter at MODS.
