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Existing elevated front entrance; ticketing and live harbor seal exhibit on the left
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Existing main lobby space with constrained entrance pathway on left
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Large, high-resolution LED display sets the tone for the underwater adventures within / interactive displays below allow visitors to “plan their own adventure”
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Existing main lobby space
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Minimal intervention option focuses on enlarging the aquarium lobby without altering any of the existing functions
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Existing circulation and functions are tightly packed, leading to bottlenecks at busy times
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Proposed reorganization of program elements to improve circulation and orientation
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Diagram of re-distribution of main entrance program elements, extending from curbside to new indoor ticketing and enlarged lobby
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Before and after
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If/then statement
New England Aquarium New Entrance Concepts
| Boston, MA
Overview: Overview: Year after year, visitor satisfaction consistently rates high at the New England Aquarium. However, during busy times of the year, some visitors report dissatisfaction with ticket wait time and the congestion of the lobby experience. Staff also identify the entrance lobby as being too small to handle entering and exiting visitors and is a major bottleneck before the exhibit experience can begin.
Details: Working closely with NEAq’s in-house design staff, BIA developed a sequence of design changes to the overall entrance experience, with the goal of improving ticketing efficiency and creating a lobby experience that will heighten a sense of anticipation and excitement for the live animal experiences inside:
• Modification of the existing freestanding ticket kiosk to serve as the new gift shop
• Elevation of the exterior plaza to be level with entry
• Modification of the existing gift shop to become the main ticketing space
• Modification of the existing lobby to be larger and more open
• Reprograming of the lobby to provide orientation and create anticipation
• Incorporation of a large-scale LED wall display to create excitement
• Inclusion of interactive “choose you own adventure” screens near entry
Client:
Size:
Cost:
Services:
New England Aquarium
Approx. 10,000 Sf
Phased over time, costs TBD
Conceptual design and 3D illustrations