River-focused new MOSH eager to create an 'experience unlike anything else in Jacksonville'

The Museum of Science and History has completed a conceptual exhibit plan for its proposed $100 million-plus new location at the Shipyards development on Jacksonville's Northbank.

The star of the so-called MOSH Genesis project is the St. Johns River.

The conceptual exhibit plan uses aspects of the river as a navigation guide for visitors. The guide begins with a two-story water feature representing the 27-foot drop from the St. Johns' headwaters in Indian River County to where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. Then guests will follow "pathways that mimic the river’s role in connecting the region" interspersed with collections and content "islands" showcasing the area's "nature, innovation and culture," according to MOSH.

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"The primary goal of MOSH Genesis is to create an experience unlike anything else in Jacksonville, which defies expectations and is a source of pride for all members of our community," museum CEO Bruce Fafard said. "This plan makes imaginative and deliberate use of every square foot within our new building’s design. I am even more energized to enter this next phase of the public review and approval process, knowing that the visitor experience has been so thoughtfully articulated."

The 2.5-acre site plan received Downtown Investment Authority approval on Dec. 21 and heads to the City Council for review in January. Museum officials anticipate a groundbreaking in 2024 and completion by the end of 2026.

Fundraising for the project is still underway. The city of Jacksonville has allocated $20 million to the project, with individual and corporate donations of almost $14 million.

The new building will be 130,000 square feet, compared to 77,000 at the current Southbank museum where operations have outgrown the space. Once MOSH Genesis opens, the museum will have the capacity to serve more students and visitors. Early projections are 469,000 annual visitors, which is a 168% increase over pre-pandemic attendance numbers, according to MOSH.

Chartered in 1941, MOSH has operated in its current location on the Southbank since 1969.

The conceptual exhibit design plan is a collaboration between MOSH leaders, the architectural team of DLR Group, kasper architects + associates and SCAPE, and New York City-based Local Projects, a multi-disciplinary design studio. Also taking part in the six-month process were community partners and subject matter experts.

"Throughout this process we had the opportunity to hear from leaders at the forefront of the region’s growth, as well as communities whose stories are long overdue for a broader audience," said Amanda White, Local Projects' director of content.

Each of the content "islands" along the museum's interior pathway will feature a permanent gallery, an interactive anchor exhibit and four supporting exhibits. The approved anchor exhibits, as described by MOSH, are:

Nature: "The River Lab, an interactive space where augmented reality and analog observational tools invite guests to explore the science behind the St. Johns and contribute to a live data visualization wall that logs their collective discoveries."

Innovation: "The Mission-Based Maker Space, a 'choose your own adventure' area where guests can tackle four engineering challenges using bespoke tools to engage in iterative problem-solving processes."

Culture: "Story Map, a room-scale glass map of the Jacksonville area, which presents interactive layers of content including art, films and other cultural artifacts."

To develop the plan, Local Projects used data from previous MOSH reports and studies and recent research into STEAM education, which is an approach to learning that uses science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. They also collected input from education leaders, business executives and cultural partners "to ensure the exhibits reflect a broad cross-section of topics and perspectives," according to MOSH.

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"Crafting the exhibit design plan for MOSH has been an incredibly collaborative and creative process," said Eric Mika, Local Projects' creative director. "We believe the approach will spark curiosity about nature, culture and innovation for visitors of all ages in a way that honors and reflects the local context.

"We look forward to working with MOSH and the Northeast Florida community to turn these concepts into reality in the coming years to build an awe-inspiring experience at the new location," he said.

MOSH initially planned a huge renovation to its existing facility but soon determined that a new building would be a better option. Renovations would have meant shutting down the museum for up to two years; the new facility would require no more than two or three months of transition, Fafard said earlier.

Multiple attempts have been made over the last decade to develop the Shipyards, which gets its name from its past use as a working waterfront. The new museum will occupy the east side of the Shipyards site. The USS Orleck arrived in Jacksonville in March to become a floating museum docked at one of the piers on the western side.

[email protected], (904) 359-4109

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY

For more information about the new museum or to donate to the project online, go to themosh.org/mosh-genesis or text the word MOSH to 44321. The current museum is at 1025 Museum Circle on Jacksonville's Southbank. For hours, ticket prices and other information, go to themosh.org.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville's new MOSH to feature river focus, 2-story water feature