AldrichPears Associates

AldrichPears Associates is an interpretive planning and exhibit design firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They work for museums, science centers, interpretive centers, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and children's museums around the world. AldrichPears Associates is best known for designing the exhibits at the Desert Living Center at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, Nevada, a LEED-certified project that explores sustainable living in the desert ^[1] and the Museo del Acero, a steel museum housed in a restored blast furnace, at Parque Fundidora. This museum interprets the scientific and cultural history of steelmaking in Mexico. ^[2]

History

Ron Pears and Phil Aldrich founded AldrichPears Associates in 1979. The company has grown steadily and now employs 30 content developers, graphic designers and exhibit designers. ^[3] In 2007, after 11 years with AldrichPears, Isaac Marshall became the third principal of the firm. ^[4] They are a full service firm that works with informal learning institutions from the initial conceptual planning phases of a project through design development and the final building contract and administration phases.

Recent work

AldrichPears has been internationally recognized for its design work on many projects. They are known in North America for their work and are gaining a foothold in the global market with projects in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. ^[5]

Interpretive centers

• Denali Visitor Center, Alaska
• Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, Homer, Alaska
• Northwest Arctic Heritage Center, Kotzebue, Alaska
• Kodiak Refuge Visitors Center, Kodiak, Alaska
• Tillamook Forest Center, Tillamook, Oregon ^[6]
• Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates ^[7]
• Desert Living Center, Las Vegas Springs Preserve, Nevada ^[8]
• Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, Georgia ^[9]
• Nature Exchange, Various locations ^[10]
• Turtle Bay Museum, Redding, California
• Yaquina Head Interpretive Center, Newport, Oregon

Museums and cultural centers

• Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos, British Columbia ^[11]
• Evergreen Brickworks, Toronto, Ontario ^[12]
• Archives of Falconry, Boise, Idaho
• Kidspace Children's Museum, Pasadena, California ^[13]
• American Memorial Park, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Honolulu, Hawaii
• National Children's Museum, Washington, DC ^[14]
• Transportation Hall, Heritage Park Historical Village, Calgary, Alberta
• National Maritime Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia ^[15]
• Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum, Prince William Sound College, Valdez, Alaska

Zoos and aquariums

• Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Odense Zoo, Odense, Denmark
• Oltramare Marine Park, Riccione, Italy
• Polar Extremes, Edmonton Valley Zoo, Edmonton, Alberta
• Zoomazium, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington ^[16]
• Lacerte Children's Zoo, Dallas Zoo, Dallas, Texas
• Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Science centers

• Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Science and Technology Center, Khobar, Saudi Arabia
• Telus World of Science, Edmonton, Alberta
• Museo del Acero (Museum of Steel), Monterrey, Mexico ^[17]
• ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo, Hawaii

References

1. Beth Rogers. "Pointing the Way", SEGDesign, Society for Environmental Graphic Design, May 2008
2. Beth Broome. "Museo del Acero Horno³", Architectural Record, January 2008
3. Glen Korstrom. "BC is now a global player in exhibit design", Business in Vancouver, April 2005
4. "Whoo's News", BC Roundup, British Columbia Museums Association, Spring 2007
5. Peter Mitham. "BC Expertise changes landscape – at home and abroad", BC Advantage, 2008
6. Tillamook Forest Center
7. "Themed Attractions Association". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
8. Derrick Penner. "City firm designs Vegas water park: Nature preserve highlights conservation ideas", Vancouver Sun, Feb 28, 2007
9. Southeastern Green
10. "Science North". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
11. "Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre: Governor General's Medal Winner", Canadian Architecture, May 2008
12. ""Old Bricks, Green Fix", Architecture BC, 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
13. "Exploration, Investigation, Expression", Themed Entertainment Association Awards, 2007 ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
14. Dave Itzkoff. "Green Design for Children's Museum", The New York Times Artsbeat, April 2009
15. Alix Noble. "Keeping Community in Mind", BC Roundup, British Columbia Museums Association, Summer 2007
16. "THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement: Zoo Exhibit", Themed Entertainment Association Awards, 2007 ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
17. Beth Broome. "Museo del Acero Horno³", Architectural Record, January 2008