American Museum of Natural History, Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals

Photos by F. Oudeman

2021
Davis Brody Bond Architects, Ralph appelbaum Architects
New York, NY

11,000 GSF

Museums & Galleries
Exhibitions

The American Museum of Natural History renovated its 11,500 SF Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals to showcase the premier collections in a modernized experience. Large-scale specimens and upwards of 4,500 types of minerals are displayed in the reimagined, open-layout gallery space with flexibility to host events.

Renfro Design Group worked closely with the architects and exhibit designers to integrate lighting into the architectural hall and exhibits. In a first of its kind, the exhibit displays a vast majority of the mineral specimen using clutch mounts attached to a vertical surface. This provided a challenge from a lighting standpoint to ensure even illumination from top to bottom of the nearly 9’ tall cases as well as minimizing shadows created by specimen closer to the top of the cases.

Numerous studies were conducted to ensure the proper color spectrum of each light source so every specimen was rendered correctly from an educational viewpoint. Within the newly constructed Minerals and Light gallery, RDG, in close collaboration with exhibit designers, curatorial staff, and mineral specialists, explored the various phenomena that occur when light and mineral structures interact. This exhibit breaks down these unique effects into digestible diagrammatic lighting moments, all of which are applied to the adjacent main minerals and gems exhibits.