Norwich, VT
70 Acres
New Construction

Situated on a 70-acre site alongside the Connecticut River, the Montshire Museum of Science integrates structures and open space in a total museum environment. Carefully sited to preserve the natural landscape and provide for future expansion, the two-level structure includes flexible exhibit space, classrooms, a special program theater, exhibit production, and workshop, as well as a reception area, food services area, and offices. The museum's architectural design reflects its New England setting with pitched roofs and barn-like massing. The museum itself acts as an exhibit of building construction: concrete columns and beams are exposed, timber trusses and their steel plate connections can be seen, hot air ducts and pipes are exposed and labeled, and the elevator is enclosed in glass as part of an exhibit on the subject of hydraulics. Flexibility is provided by means of a 4'x4' suspended grid system with readily changeable lighting, piping, and partition attachments. CBT received a Citation for Excellence in Sustainable Design by the Boston Society of Architects for recognition of our efforts to preserve the interdependent relationship between the built and natural landscape, and to provide for the continued existence of both.