The History Museum on the Square has hired a firm based out of Washington, D.C., to provide exhibit consulting services.
Gallagher & Associates, which also operates out of San Francisco and Signapore as a museum planning and design firm, has been brought on to aid the $20 million long-term project in downtown Springfield, according to a news release.
"The board felt it to be very important to have one of the country’s best museum and exhibit planners helping to design the museum-specific details and the exhibit experiences," History Museum board President Mary McQueary said in the release. "After interviewing three of the country’s most successful consultants, they agreed Gallagher to be a perfect fit for the museum.”
In its 30-year history, Gallagher & Associates has worked on projects ranging from cultural history and natural science to music and the arts. Past clients include the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, the Reagan Presidential Library, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and the New Mexico History Museum.
Calling the Springfield museum a "next-generation complex," Gallagher & Associates founder and President Patrick Gallagher said the History Museum on the Square shows a lot of promise.
"Located in the heart of the community, this museum has the opportunity to draw on the rich history of events that shaped the character of Springfield, from the Civil War to the coming of the railroad and from the birthplace of Route 66 to the unique culture of music, arts and industry that illuminate why at the center of the country, Springfield represents a true American experience," Gallagher said in the release. "We are looking forward to the potential of creating a museum that will engage the visitor and motivate them to go out and discover the city and surrounding region with a new found perspective of Springfield and how it is making history every day.”
During the next year, Gallagher & Associates will work with museum design firm Casey Architecture, Executive Director John Sellars and museum directors and staff.
McQueary said the museum is planning an Aug. 5 “flip the switch” ceremony for the new neon light signage currently being installed on the rooftop. Among the plans, officials are restoring the original torches from the historic Barth’s building the museum now calls home.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
