Exhibits Case Studies

Madison Children's Museum

100 State Street
Madison, WI 53703

608.256.6445 (p)
608.268.1398 (f)
John Robinson (contact)
jrobinson@madisonchildrensmuseum.org (e)

http://www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org

• Institutional Sustainability Mission
• Sustainability Guidelines for Contractors
• Learning from Leopold and Seuss, (pdf) Brenda Baker (Madison Children’s Museum), Guest Editor, Hand to Hand, volume 20, Spring 2006
• Seeing Green, (pdf) Jeremy Schoolfield, Fun World, The International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, June 2005
• "The Sustainable Museum: It's Not Easy Being Green," (pdf) Brenda Baker and John Robinson, Hand to Hand, volume 14, Winter 2000

Bridges

Project Size: 1,000 sq. ft.
Project Budget: $120,000 ($116 per sq. ft.)

Exhibit/Project Description:
Bridges is a 1,000 sq. ft. traveling exhibit that explores bridge design, engineering and utilization. The exhibit was one of seven created for a traveling exhibit collaborative known as MC2. Bridges was built using almost completely sustainable materials, mostly regionally or sustainably harvested hard and softwoods. The exhibit spent five years on the road and was installed in 14 venues over that time before being sold to another children's museum for over a third of the initial costs of creating it.

Factors Affecting Decision to "Go Green":
Bridges was the Museum’s first major project after First Feats. Thus, Bridges was developed and fabricated according to our nascent commitment to a green approach while incorporating our emerging green criteria for new exhibit projects. Further, the superior durability of First Feats was clear by the time this project began and Bridges created an opportunity to further test and evaluate our green design and fabrication practices via a traveling exhibit and the inherent rigors of life on the road.

Distinguishing green features:

• Sustainably harvested wood component construction
• Sealed construction plywood is V.O.C.-free
• Zero-V.O.C. paints and stains used throughout
• Organic wool area rugs
• Organic cotton and wool fabrics used throughout

Favorite Green products used:

• Safecoat paints and sealers
• Livos stains
• Organic Cotton Alternatives Futon

Piece of advice for others regarding project:
The rigors of life on the road will destroy most conventionally built exhibits. Bridges remained a lovely, functional exhibit throughout and retained its value to such a great degree thanks to a simple, elegant design and the superior durability of the materials. Try to account for these cost-factors when comparing conventional versus sustainable materials.

New or Upcoming Green Projects:
Since the opening of Bridges, MCM has continued renovating other galleries and incorporating more sustainable practices into all of our exhibit development and operational strategies. As we prepare to expand into a new and larger facility we will bring our sustainability mission to the design process for both the building and all new exhibits.