Richard White Sons, Inc., a New England construction management and general contracting firm, was awarded The Museum of Science Green Wing renovation project, featuring a world-class new exhibit, the Hall of Human Life. Working alongside architectural partner Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc. and the engineering firm RDK, the Richard White Sons team will create a new exhibit space for the Museum of Science that will explore how our bodies are constantly changing and adapting to our environment, from our foot arches evolving to counteract gravity to our DNA quickly adapting to fight infections. This new permanent exhibit is the largest created by the Museum since the 1990s.
The Green Wing Expansion, Hall of Human Life project scope includes demolition and abatement of existing exhibits and the gut renovation of 16,000 s/f of the second floor of the museum creating the new 10,000 s/f exhibition, new bathrooms, signature new gallery entryway, and includes updates to all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems. The project team will introduce a new air handling unit (AHU) to the roof as well as structural a support platform to meet the needs of the new AHU. The project presents numerous logistical challenges given that it is surrounded on all sides by active, occupied, Museum space. An interesting challenge of the project was that given the location of the AHU placement near the back of the building, and the building's proximity to the Charles River, the project team had to carefully coordinate a blind pick over the museum from the front of the building.
The team has worked proactively and successfully to limit the impacts of construction to the Museum of Science community.
The mission of the Hall of Human Life is to expand public knowledge of biology and inspire people to explore life sciences careers. Life sciences are a growing and critical anchor of the local economy, and the exhibit is made possible due to a $5 million grant to the Museum of Science from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, along with lead support from Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Burnes, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Egerman, Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Melden, Mr. and Mrs. George Hatsopoulos, Mr. and Mrs. Henri Termeer, Mr. and Mrs. Neil Wallace, Gwill York and Paul Maeder, and other generous donors. Echoing the importance of this hallmark new exhibit Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, said "The Hall of Human Life will be a world-class resource that reflects our world-class life sciences cluster. It will inspire future scientists and engineers, educate the public, and train and develop the next generation of talented life sciences workers for which Massachusetts is globally recognized."
Founded in 1830, the Museum of Science, Boston is one of the largest science centers and New England's most attended cultural institution. The museum introduces over 1.5 million visitors per year to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) via dynamic programs and hundreds of interactive exhibits. Donald E. White, LEED AP, ppresident & CEO of RichardWhite Sons, Inc., expressed his excitement in regards to this project, "Any resident of Massachusetts is familiar with the Museum of Science's sterling reputation as well as the tremendous educational benefits it yields for its visitors. Needless to say we are excited to have the opportunity to gain such an esteemed institution as a client and are thrilled to make significant updates to one of Boston's most prominent cultural centers of excellence."
Richard White Sons, Inc. founded in 1905, is a construction management firm with over a century of award-winning service to academic, cultural, research and corporate clients throughout the New England region.