Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals
In collaboration with award-winning exhibit designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Page developed a comprehensive design vision for a new signature exhibition as part of a renovation of the American Museum of Natural History Halls of Gems & Minerals. This project is one of a series of architectural and programmatic enhancements to the cherished New York City institution leading up to its 150th anniversary and the opening of the new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation.
The overall design restores the hall’s original architectural intent while opening the space and modernizing its infrastructure. Within the renovated halls, an open layout invites curiosity-driven exploration. The layout is organized into three main divisions: the Minerals Hall, the Gems Hall, and the Meister Gallery for temporary exhibitions. Additionally, a room off the east wall explores the optical properties of minerals and their interaction with light.
Awards
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International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) Award of Merit
The new space features custom casework and provides a suitably stunning home for the museum’s expansive collection, only a fraction of which had been previously on display. The museum aimed to transform the 11,500-square-foot hall into a must-see destination that will educate and delight the next generation of visitors.
Making the collection shine
State-of-the-art lighting is optimized to highlight color variation and refraction in gems and jewelry, enhancing the vibrant mineral colors, crystal habitats, and sculptural forms. Uplighting eliminates shadows across specimens, ensuring every detail is clearly visible.
New technology for a new generation
Large-scale media projections and interactive displays with time-lapse imagery and colorful animations introduce key ideas about mineral and gem properties. A layer of inquiry-based interpretation helps engage visitors through Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which offers tools for investigating science practices related to mineralogy.
The heavyweights
Structural reinforcements accommodate signature large-scale specimens collected from around the world, including two towering amethyst geodes from Uruguay; a slab of amphibolite containing giant garnets; and the Singing Stone, a massive block of blue azurite and green malachite whose extraordinary colors shine under the new lighting design.
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Minerals and light
This alcove captivates visitors with the mesmerizing interactions between light and different minerals and gems. White light, short- and long-wave UV light, and darkness reveal the fluorescent properties of the featured Sterling Hill Slab, creating a captivating visual experience.
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Hall of Gems
With an incredible diversity and array of colors, the gems are exhibited by type in custom cases that accentuate their brilliance. Pride of place is given to star sapphires and cat’s eyes, including the famous 563-carat Star of India sapphire.
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Meister Gallery
A dedicated space for temporary exhibitions, the Meister Gallery is adaptable for new, exciting displays. The debut collection, Beautiful Creatures, presents more than 100 animal-themed precious jewels created by the world's great jewelry houses and artisans.
Providing new connections
While the halls previously formed a cul-de-sac, they now provide a glamorous portal to the other exhibit halls and connect directly from the new Gilder Center through the Yurman Family Crystalline Pass.
“Our new exhibits will allow us to tell how the story of minerals is linked with their natural environment and biology on the one hand and with culture and technology on the other.”George HarlowProject CuratorAMNH
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