Executive Summary

The process of developing alternate solutions of methods of exhibiting information for an Art-Science Museum in the renovated Lieutenant Quarters #3 on Fort Hancock required background research, which included both observation and analysis of current exhibitions at various museums and the study of design theory in general. Studies of interior design theory and basic elements of museums helped in understanding past solutions to the problem of needing to exhibit information. According to Shaping Interior Space, by Roberto J. Rengel, effective interior designs make impressions on users at each stage of the building experience, such as during the approach and the waiting periods, rather than only at the main destination. The publication by the State Historical Society of Iowa, “The Field Guide for Museums,” provided insight into both general goals of museums as well as specific information, such as standard font sizes for captions and suggested materials for mounting and storing objects. 

           Among the exhibitions observed were from the New York Public Library, the Clark Museum, the Asbury Park 5^th Avenue Pavilion, and the Info Age Learning Center. The most effective exhibits had a hierarchical presentation of information formatted as arguments and stories. For example, the NYPL exhibit, “The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter,” began in chronological format starting with the first children’s book, then developed into a persuasive argument by presenting information on banned books and the value of reading. This exhibit also used textures and props to suggest moods and settings. The Clark Museum successfully established differences among collections of art using varying wall colors, ceiling heights, and natural light in each exhibit. Conversely, the Asbury Park exhibit, “The Promised Land,” consisted of displays haphazardly placed in a mostly empty studio, and lacked an obvious path or order to follow; as a result, the exhibit left a less significant impression. The Info Age exhibit at Camp Evans at times failed to emphasize the significance of the information presented by limiting exhibits to utilitarian frames, labels, tables, and colors. The exhibit was unprofessional, with many objects and visuals taped to or leaned against walls, and was difficult to understand without a tour guide.

Figure 1: Display at the NYPL exhibit, "The ABC of It:
Why Children's Books Matter"

Figure 2: "The Promised Land," exhibit at Asbury Park 5th Pavilion.

Figure 2: "The Promised Land," exhibit at Asbury Park 5th Avenue Pavilion.

           The exhibits within the Art-Science museum will have clear organization logically and spatially, as they will utilize the preexisting architecture as well as added wall dividers to repurpose the space specifically as a museum. Interactive exhibits and videos integrated throughout the exhibits will increase understanding and interest in the information among users. The exhibit’s color and style will be professional and reflective of the topics covered and the surrounding environment of historical Fort Hancock.

Because the museum might obtain or borrow artifacts to exhibit, research must include how to properly store and display artifacts so to maintain their quality in different temperatures and conditions. According to “The Field Guide for Museums,” construction materials must be inert or sealed with water-based coatings, such as water-based polyurethane, for mounting objects to protect them from damage. In addition, construction materials for cases and platforms should not include acid or volatile materials, and the cases should include ventilation systems. Applying the information collected regarding proper object maintenance is vital to the effectiveness of the museum and viability of the plans, especially in the Sandy Hook environment, where weather conditions have a large range of temperature, moisture, and severity.

            The stakeholders involved in the Art-Science museum include those who will invest in and run the museum, which will most likely be private investors and owners. National Park Service’s recent request for potential ways to repurpose the deteriorating buildings on Fort Hancock mentioned private investors as one type of client who might have interest in repurposing one or more buildings, and the museum strays from the strictly historical topics that might interest the Park Service as investors, so private investors would be the most probably stakeholder in the museum. The people involved from the audience standpoint are mainly children from preschool-age to middle school-age. Schools for children of these age ranges are most common in the area surrounding Sandy Hook, and the museum presents opportunities for collaboration with educational institutions for educational programs, such as field trips. Sandy Hook also holds appeal for families due to the current historical attractions and recreational activities, so the target audience of children will be fulfilled through both the recreational aspects and the educational aspects of the museum’s appeal.

The Art-Science museum intends to present the connections between art and science and examples of how they influence each other, and connect the information back to Fort Hancock, the location of the museum. The exhibit will utilize both floors in the house, giving additional space for displays, a way to distinguish between different sections of the exhibit, and a way to organize the circulation system of the museum. Because the exhibit will present research compiled as a persuasive story, as opposed to an exhibit presenting artifacts and then creating a connection among them, the information will be presented in a variety of methods, including pictures, objects, models, interactive exhibits, and videos. Many sources, such as the article “Designing a Wonderful Experience,” by Saul Carliner, explain that information systems that involve users in the experience physically, through manual interaction, and emotionally, by involving users directly in the “story,” often prove to be more effective. Background research of design theory and observation of effective exhibit design allowed for further development of alternate solutions for the Art-Science Museum in Lt. Quarters #3 on Fort Hancock.