Children’s museum fabrication projects are exciting for us because we are given the opportunity to take a trip back in time to our own childhood and remember what it was like to see things with fresh, young eyes and a ready mind. Vibrant colors, interesting shapes, and practically surreal imagery are all facets of children’s museums that we love, and which make these projects so interesting and fun. In collaboration with MAM Exhibits, we worked to design and fabricate a new Trolley Exhibit for the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples.

Golisano Children’s Museum fabrication finished product.

The trolley train table at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples hadn’t been updated in years, and when they received a generous donation for just that purpose, they were excited to get started on the project. The goal of the redesign was to increase interactivity, play space, and learning opportunities. We created two distinct play spaces and many options for kids to build and experiment with their engineering abilities. The graphics are stunning – vibrant and colorful with a modern geometric twist that is sure to be pleasing for years to come. We even added a train cutout for the drawer pull, shown below. This is what we love about children’s museum fabrication!

Train pull for the Children’s Museum fabrication.

Children’s Museum Fabrication

You can see that we started the fabrication in the ADM Two warehouse. Our expert carpenters created the elegant, yet large curved piece that serves as the main play area, and then assembled the structure to make sure that the pieces fit together perfectly. Next, the pieces received graphic treatment, and then we shipped everything to the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples for final construction. This children’s museum fabrication was especially rewarding because after all was said and done, we got to see photos of the happy, focused faces of children using their imaginations to build things, and that is exactly what we were like when we were kids.

Children’s museum fabrication process.

Children’s Museum fabrication process in the warehouse.

The install at the museum.

Finishing touches on the install.

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Install complete. So proud to have such smart, hard-working staff!

About the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples

The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) is Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted for children and families to learn through play. With hands-on exhibit galleries, the accessible museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, weave through a maze, climb a two-story banyan tree, or experiment with the water play station. Children can become a weather forecaster, a farmer, a chef, a fisherman, an artist, an architect or a veterinarian. They are invited to explore the cold of an igloo, the whoosh of the wind, the sound of the sea, the effects of water and the colors of the rainbow. Throughout the day, special activities encourage guests to get involved, try something new and be energized. The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples believes it is a privilege to share life with a child and celebrates the natural curiosity of children. This safe and wonderful place inspires children and families to have fun while learning together. Please visit their website at www.cmon.org for more information.

ADM Two

ADM Two doesn’t just envision potential, we make your vision a reality. An exciting and engaging children’s museum fabrication starts with choosing a great team. ADM Two are experts in children’s museum fabrication, custom museum display cases, and custom exhibit design. Our staff is prepared to handle even the most challenging projects. Give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for trade show booth design and corporate interior remodeling.

ADM Two Case Study, Blog (Exhibit Insight), Custom, Museum Exhibit

Museum Exhibit Update: Historic Spanish Point Case Study

2016-02-03 Nikki Devereux

A museum exhibit update is usually necessary because technology is constantly changing and in many cases a better way of presenting information arises. The learning styles and interests of the museum audience is also changing as generations of digital natives come of age. In order to capture these audiences who are raised in electronics, museums must stay abreast of the current trends in the industry. This is one of the reasons that the Windows of the Past Exhibit at Historic Spanish Point needed a refresh, and they chose ADM Two for the job.

Before museum exhibit update – drab, uninteresting lighting and materials.

Before the update – audio visual mess in the corner, outdated graphics with unflattering lighting.

This museum exhibit update included a new audio/visual system for a cleaner, more modern setup. We also noticed that many design and lighting elements needed updating. The existing carpet flooring was unflattering and needed refreshed – we added beautiful medium-colored, wide-paneled wood flooring for a classic, natural feel. New wood benches to match the museum cases that we built added some much needed seating to the exhibit. Finally, the new museum cases brightened up the exhibit. To add to the brightness, we switched to LED lighting, which created warm yet subtle glow to the overall exhibit. Spot lighting highlighted the individual panels, and the final touch was designing new graphics to go along with the new museum cases. The whole museum exhibit update took off without a hitch, and we had the opportunity to learn about a nearby Florida landmark.

After the update – textured lighting that highlights the graphics, seating for comfort, clean lines and a warmer atmosphere.

Another view of the exhibit after the update – beautiful, vibrant graphics and a more modern feel.

Historic Spanish Point – Prehistory

Historic Spanish Point is a fascinating place. Located on the Gulf Coast in Osprey, Florida, it is one of the largest intact actively preserved archaeological sites of the prehistoric period on the Gulf Coast. Its archaeological record encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida prehistory. During this period, people living in this area gradually made the transition from nomadic hunters to settled subsistent societies. The abundant resources provided by the coastal habitat fostered this change, and use of tools further established both permanent and seasonal settlements in the area.

The site may be one of the oldest and largest ceremonial shell ring middens in the southeastern United States. A midden is an archaeological term for a dump for domestic waste that contains products relating to day-to-day human life. They may contain animal bone, shell, botanical materials, potsherds, debitage (left over pieces from making stone flake points) and other artifacts.

The Historic Spanish Point exhibit is full of truly compelling information and artifacts, and should be on any visitors’ list to Florida. Certainly native Floridians who live close by should add it to their list of local treasures. More information can be found at historicspanishpoint.org.

ADM Two doesn’t just envision potential, we make your vision a reality. An exciting and engaging museum exhibit update starts with choosing a great team to help with design. ADM Two are experts in custom museum exhibit fabrication and custom museum display cases. Our staff are prepared to handle even the most challenging projects. Give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for trade show booth design.

ADM Two Case Study, Blog (Exhibit Insight), Custom, Museum Exhibit

Museum Display Cases: Mound House Case Study

2016-01-27 Nikki Devereux

Museum display cases are usually a fairly straightforward project for us, but the casework for Mound House in Estero Island, FL, was the type of project that required a good bit of creative critical thinking. Our team often faces challenges; that is when the ADM Two staff really shines. We excel at problem solving and on-the-fly solutions, so we are always up for a project that requires a bit more thought.

Building museum display cases around the existing graphics was our challenge.

The graphics for the exhibit were already in place, so we had to create museum display cases based around the existing layout of those graphics. This made our customization a bit trickier than usual. The factor that made the job really unusual was the fact that the Mound House is a historical building, so the very old structure is not level. We had to take this element into account in our measurements and planning. The final exhibit ended up looking great, and we had another happy client.

The museum display cases we built fit in seamlessly with the exhibit.

More About Mound House

Estero Island’s oldest standing structure at the Mound House has recently been restored to its 1921 grandeur and is now open as a cultural and environmental learning center. Mound House is a unique archaeological and historical site on Fort Myers Beach located directly on Estero Bay and offers a variety of programs for local residents, visitors and school groups. Experience this one of a kind museum that sits atop a 2,000 year old Calusa Indian Shell Mound. Visit www.moundhouse.org for more information on this fascinating historical structure.

Artifacts to be housed in the custom museum cases.

These museum display cases were built to fit the specific size of the masks.

ADM Two doesn’t just envision potential, we make your vision a reality. Creating an exciting and engaging museum exhibit starts with choosing a great team to help with design. ADM Two are experts in custom museum exhibit fabrication and custom museum display cases. Our staff are prepared to handle even the most challenging projects. Give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for trade show booth design.

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

Thanks to Our Trade Show, Museum Design, and Corporate Environment Clients

2015-11-11 Nikki Devereux

The Florida Aquarium Anniversary Wall.

Lately, we have been so busy that we hardly have time to eat. As any business owner knows, this is a great thing, and we want to thank our trade show clients, our museum design fabrication clients, and our corporate environment clients for keeping us busy. The fact is, your business is our business, and our success is directly linked to each and every one of our you. As a family owned and run business, our hearts are in our work, so we treat everyone that walks through our door as a member of our ever-expanding family.

As we enter the holiday season, we thought this would be a good time to reflect on how fortunate we are. Just this year alone, we’ve worked on some incredible projects, won some awards, and helped some clients avert disaster. We are growing more rapidly than ever, and we brought on a new member of our family/team, Tony Ricci. It’s like he has always been a part of our family; we just can’t imagine life without him. Our client family has grown rapidly as well, and throughout the holiday season, we are going to highlight some of our client projects, starting with The Florida Aquarium.

The history of The Aquarium began when it was still the Clearwater Marine Science Center. In 1985 a group of consultants assessed the Clearwater Marine Science Center and recommended an overhaul – in order for the center to compete in the national aquarium scene, it needed a major makeover and more educational and research opportunities.

Finally, ten years later, on March 31, 1995, The Florida Aquarium opened its doors at The Garrison Seaport Center in Tampa, FL. In the years since its grand opening, The Florida Aquarium has served 13 million Tampa Bay residents and tourists, bringing a huge economic thrust to the community. Now, 20 years later, The Florida Aquarium has become a major destination in the Tampa Bay area. Nearly every year since it opened its doors, The Aquarium has introduced new educational programs, research centers, care centers, and attractions.

This year, for The Florida Aquarium’s 20^th Anniversary, we had the pleasure of working with The Aquarium and designer Mary Anna Murphy to fabricate a custom museum design. We helped to create a series of displays with several walls that showcased The Aquarium’s history, artifacts, and a photo opp wall featuring a mermaid.

The 20^th Anniversary display wasn’t the first time ADM Two has completed museum design alongside The Aquarium. In 2006, we helped complete the Aquariumania display, which has been a hit with people of all ages. In 2007, ADM Two helped The Aquarium fabricate a touch tank and mural wall for the Horseshoe Crab Lagoon. The exhibit is one that blends education with fun – a hallmark of The Florida Aquarium. We have thoroughly enjoyed our journey thus far with The Florida Aquarium, and look forward to continuing to offer our hand in designing and fabricating new exhibits for years to come.

ADM Two has also fabricated exhibits for the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa and the Six Mile Cypress Preserve Environmental Center in Ft. Myers, FL, among others. For more information on museum design fabrication, corporate environment fabrication, and trade show exhibit displays, contact ADM Two at (813) 887-1960 or visit the website at www.admtwo.com.

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

Recycling Materials for a Greener Museum Exhibit

2015-08-13 Nikki Devereux

One of the challenges in our industry is finding ways to be more earth friendly. The best tactic that we’ve employed has been to creatively repurpose exhibits that are no longer useful in their current format. This applies to museum exhibits and trade show exhibits alike. Our latest repurpose project was for Leepa Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs.

The Leepa-Rattner Museum is a modern and contemporary art museum featuring more than 6,000 works of 20^th and 21^st century art. They recently participated in the Artmobile project for Pinellas County schools, and there was a TV pedestal from the exhibit that did not have a home after the project was over. We wanted to find a way to live up to our “greener museum exhibit” challenge, so we took a look at what they currently had on display, and how we could incorporate this orphan piece.

Leepa-Rattner’s TV stand display at Artmobile – before it became our “greener museum exhibit” piece.

We found the perfect home for this “greener museum exhibit” piece in the Interactive Gallery. The Interactive Gallery is a space where visitors are encouraged to experience art hands-on. The museum wanted to enhance the gallery by creating a technology piece, so we decided to use the TV pedestal as an iPad dock and counter. The counter supports multiple users and conceals wiring and power for a seamless, safe interactive technology piece.

The new iPad stand in the Interactive Gallery.

The work it took to repurpose the piece was minimal – for projects like this it is usually vision and creativity that are more important. We re-laminated the piece to match the museum, added a door for power access and removed all of the old graphic skins from the base. The final step was to build a custom iPad swivel stand for the top, and that was it. Greener museum exhibit mission accomplished.

Sometimes simple solutions are the best solutions. There was nothing complex about this project, but it did take some consideration. The best thing about creative solutions like this is that they often solve several problems at one time. In this case, we responded to the need for an interactive technology piece and the need to discard a large object – sometimes easier said than done. This is one of our strengths – our ability to look at something and envision its potential.

ADM Two doesn’t just envision potential, we make your vision a reality. Creating an exciting and engaging museum exhibit starts with choosing a great team to help with design. We can even help you create that “greener museum exhibit,” which will save you money and help the planet. ADM Two are experts in custom museum exhibit fabrication, so give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for museum fabrication.

Blog (Exhibit Insight), Museum Exhibit

Museum Fabrication: Bringing a Museum Exhibit Back to Life

2015-08-05 Nikki Devereux

Museum fabrication - the Palmer museum exhibit in Sarasota.

Museum exhibit fabrication – the Palmer museum exhibit in Sarasota.

Museum fabrication is exciting for us, as we have the pleasure of immersing ourselves in the exhibits we help build. Whether we are fabricating for a history museum or an art museum, there is always a story or a lesson to be learned. The Palmer exhibit at Historic Spanish Point in Sarasota was no exception – we were captivated with “Mrs. Potter Palmer: The Legendary Lady.”

Mrs. Palmer was an extraordinary woman, particularly for her time. She was a business savvy, politically connected socialite. She loved Sarasota, and in 1910 decided to establish a 350-acre estate there, which she named Osprey Point. Many of the lavish gardens and lawns that Mrs. Palmer created have now been restored at Historic Spanish Point. In 1976, it became the first site in Sarasota County to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Last month we had the pleasure of helping to update the Palmer museum exhibit. With just a few changes, the entire exhibit was revitalized – it is now more elegant, more modern and it is even easier to read. The museum fabrication facelift included:

A fresh coat of paint for a clean slate
New lighting for better visibility and a more modern feel
New graphics for texture and color
Layered graphic panels for dimension

The fresh coat of paint made a world of difference. It gave us a clean canvas to start with. The new lighting enhanced this clean slate, adding an air of richness. The Palmer museum exhibit no longer felt forgotten – it was given a new vitality.

We chose a china pattern from Mrs. Palmer’s era for the background graphics. The pattern truly set off the entire exhibit and added a beautiful old world feel that is both luxurious and comforting – a perfect means of conveying Mrs. Palmer’s influence.

A fresh coat of paint laid the pristine foundation for the revitalization of this museum exhibit.

Adding more color graphics and photos gave the exhibit some depth and character. The text is more readable and the layered panels lend a more substantial feel to the presentation. Overall, the subtle changes we made had a huge impact on this museum exhibit. It was as if the story of Mrs. Palmer came alive.

Before and after photos – before on the top, after on the bottom.

“Museum fabrication reminds us of when we were kids – how exciting it was when we would go on field trips to the art museum or the history museum. It’s this type of learning that is memorable for children, and we love to help make it a reality,” said Susan Canonico, CEO of ADM Two.

Exciting and engaging museum fabrication starts with choosing a great team to help with design. ADM Two are experts in custom museum exhibit fabrication, so give us a call at (813) 887-1960, and one of our knowledgeable staff can assist you with design ideas. Also, check out some of our other articles to get ideas for trade show booth design. For more information on the Palmer exhibit and Historic Spanish Point, visit www.historicspanishpoint.org.