AldrichPears Associates explained

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]

Profile

Ron Pears and Phil Aldrich co-founded AldrichPears Associates in 1979. The company has experienced steady growth and currently employs a team of around 30 professionals specializing in content development, graphic design, and exhibit design. In 2007, Isaac Marshall joined AldrichPears as a principal, further enriching the firm's leadership. The company provides comprehensive services, collaborating closely with informal learning institutions throughout all project phases – from initial conceptualization and planning to design development, as well as overseeing building contracts and administration.^{[3] [4]}

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

Notes and References

1. Beth Rogers. "Pointing the Way", SEGDesign, Society for Environmental Graphic Design, May 2008
2. http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/0801acerohorno-1.asp 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. http://www.tillamookforestcenter.org/about_02.html Tillamook Forest Center
7. Web site: Themed Attractions Association . 2010-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716182804/https://taacanada.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94:conserving-the-desert&catid=16:member-news . 2011-07-16 . dead .
8. Derrick Penner. "City firm designs Vegas water park: Nature preserve highlights conservation ideas", Vancouver Sun, Feb 28, 2007
9. http://www.southeastgreen.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=895:new-discovery-center-at-the-chattahoochee-nature-center&catid=1:metro-atl-news&Itemid=2 Southeastern Green
10. Web site: Science North . 2010-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180040/http://sciencenorth.ca/enterprises/work/exhibits/natureexchange/index.html . 2016-03-03 . dead .
11. http://www.cdnarchitect.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000222881&PC=# "Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre: Governor General's Medal Winner", Canadian Architecture, May 2008
12. Web site: "Old Bricks, Green Fix", Architecture BC, 2008 . 2010-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706164623/http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/other_aibc_documents/architecturebc/winter08_archbc.pdf . 2011-07-06 . dead .
13. http://www.teaconnect.org/thea_13th/kidspace.pdf "Exploration, Investigation, Expression", Themed Entertainment Association Awards, 2007
14. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/green-design-for-childrens-museum/ Dave Itzkoff. "Green Design for Children's Museum", 'T'he New York Times Artsbeat, April 2009
15. Alix Noble. "Keeping Community in Mind", BC Roundup, British Columbia Museums Association, Summer 2007
16. http://teaconnect.org/thea_13annual/zoomazm.pdf "THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement: Zoo Exhibit", Themed Entertainment Association Awards, 2007
17. http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/0801acerohorno-1.asp Beth Broome. "Museo del Acero Horno³", Architectural Record, January 2008