Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Jenkins•Peer Selected to Masterplan Discovery Place Science

Discovery Place and the City of Charlotte today announced the selection of the architectural team that will lead the analysis, planning and design of a new vision for Discovery Place Science in uptown Charlotte. The announcement follows last night’s approval by Charlotte City Council of the architectural contract. New York-based Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) will serve as design architect and will partner with Charlotte firm Jenkins•Peer Architects (J•PA) who will act as architect of record. Together the firms will oversee a team that will create a master plan and conceptual design to imagine the future of one of the Carolinas’ premiere cultural attractions.

Discovery Place Science, which first opened its doors on North Tryon Street in 1981, is a four-acre catalyst site in the North Tryon Vision Plan, an innovative vision to redevelop and re-energize the northern corridor of Tryon St. The plan was adopted by the City of Charlotte earlier this year. The new master plan will consider how a reconfigured and upgraded Discovery Place Science will interact with a new streetscape as well as service the growing need for STEM education in the region.

The DS+R and J•PA team will lead a process that will include workshops to engage the community and key stakeholders; an analysis of trends and models in science centers; an overview of experiential design concepts; an evaluation of the current Discovery Place Science campus; and an assessment of future needs and opportunities. Ultimately, the architect group will develop an inspiring conceptual design for the facility that will communicate the Museum’s mission to provide the community with educational and immersive opportunities in science, technology and nature.

DS+R completed two of the largest architecture and planning initiatives in New York City’s recent history: the adaptive reuse of an obsolete, industrial rail infrastructure into the High Line, a 1.5 mile-long public park, and the transformation of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ half-century-old campus. Amongst the firm’s cultural projects are the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and The Broad, a contemporary art museum key to downtown LA’s recent revitalization. J•PA brings an impressive depth of experience in projects throughout the Carolinas and elsewhere with a special expertise in working with public sector clients. The firm has led multiple planning projects for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library system as well as the Jerry Richardson Stadium & Judy Rose Football Center at UNC Charlotte.

“DS+R is one of the world’s leading architectural design firms, well-known for their urban place-making as well as major civic and cultural buildings and campuses,” said Catherine Wilson Horne, president and CEO, Discovery Place. “We believe they bring a global perspective that will help define the North Tryon district as Charlotte’s center where curiosity begins, knowledge is advanced and innovation lives. We are delighted to partner with them and can’t wait to begin imagining new ways for our community to experience science.”

Discovery Place Science’s master planning process is anticipated to kick off in January and is expected to be completed in late 2018.

For more information, visit https://www.discoveryplace.org/about/press/releases/discovery-place-announces-architects-for-uptown-master-plan.