Montshire Partners with Lemon Brooke Landscape Architecture to Develop Outdoor Master Plan
The Montshire has a long history of developing extraordinary outdoor learning experiences and interactive environments. Located along the Connecticut River, the Montshire’s 100 acres include over three miles of educational trails, the interactive David Goudy Science Park which includes unique water features and physical science exhibits, and the Hughes Pavilion—a state-of-the art gathering place for programs and visitor amenities. The Montshire has been providing family and school learning experiences on the grounds for close to thirty years, and serves almost 600 summer campers a year.
As part of the Montshire’s recently-adopted strategic plan, the Museum’s leadership has outlined unique goals that will engage people of all ages in experiencing the joy of science by maximizing opportunities for discovery and elevating the Museum’s outdoor experiences. By partnering with Lemon Brooke Landscape Architecture, the Museum will map out a high-level master plan for the 100-acre landscape that focuses the Montshire’s outdoor experiences on discovery.
“We are thrilled to be working with Lemon Brooke Landscape Architecture on this pivotal project,” remarks Montshire Executive Director Marcos Stafne. “Lemon Brooke has the professional experience and a personal commitment to creating inspired outdoor environments that are accessible, engaging, and imaginative. The Montshire’s 100-acres is an incredible laboratory for people of all ages to learn more about the world around them, and Lemon Brooke will guide the Museum in pushing these experiences to the next level.”
“Thinking about the potential that a 100 acre museum like the Montshire has to shape a child’s imagination and their future relationship with the physical and natural world is very exciting,” explains Jennifer Brooke. “We want to strengthen the Montshire’s role in the way families learn together, play together, and hopefully begin an ongoing dialogue about science in their everyday lives.” Lemon Brooke Landscape Architecture is led by Jennifer Brooke and Christian Lemon, and has completed numerous outdoor projects across the United States and abroad. Jennifer Brooke explained, ” Science is the way water runs downhill, leaves fall from the trees, and shadows move across the ground. At the intersection of art and science is landscape architecture. Designers at Lemon Brooke love nothing more than sharing our sense of wonder in the natural world whenever possible, and where better than at a science museum with a passion for hands-on learning?”
The Montshire’s master planning process began in February of 2017, and the process will continue through November 2017.
About the Montshire Museum of Science:
Situated in the Upper Connecticut River Valley in Norwich, Vermont, along the Connecticut River and adjacent to Hanover, New Hampshire, the Montshire Museum of Science’s building and grounds have sparked the scientific imaginations of millions of visitors. The Montshire’s mission is to awaken and encourage a lifelong interest in science through exhibits and programming dedicated to hands-on discovery and education for people of all ages. Unique to this mission is Montshire’s 100-acre New England riverfront setting, which fosters deep and creative learning in both the physical and natural sciences. The Museum opened in 1976 and moved to its current location in 1989; it recently celebrated its 40th anniversary of serving the public. Since its move to Norwich, the Museum has doubled its building size, blazed and interpreted three miles of trails, developed the three acre David Goudy Science Park with hands-on exhibits and seasonal water play activities, and built the outdoor Hughes Pavilion.
About Lemon Brooke:
Lemon Brooke is a landscape architecture and planning office in Concord, Massachusetts. The husband and wife founders, Jennifer Brooke and Christian Lemon, have long maintained a persistent focus on the relationship between design and human experience, knowing that it really does make a difference. That means they work diligently to create environments that are inspiring, accessible, healthy, visceral, and meaningful. Together, Jennifer and Christian have worked on award-winning projects that span a wide range of typologies, with corporate, institutional and private clients around the country. One of their recently completed projects, the Discovery Woods at the Discovery Museums in Acton, Massachusetts, won the 2017 Commonwealth Award for Access. Presented every two years by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the award honors exceptional achievement in the arts, humanities, and sciences. The Award for Access recognizes exceptional programs that make arts and culture accessible and inclusive for older adults, persons with disabilities and other underserved populations, and Lemon Brooke is very proud to have been a large part of this achievement.