Lafayette Natural History Museum & Planetarium, Lafayette

Originally built in 1913 and operated as Heymann Department Store, this historical building had been vacated for 10 years and had become a haven for vagrants, serving to undermine the city's efforts at downtown revitalization.

A group of preservationists spearheaded a movement to locate the new Lafayette Natural History Museum & Planetarium into the downtown streetscape to revitalize the city's core.

To move the old museum and planetarium into the 75,000-sq.-ft., three-story Heymann building presented many challenges, most notably the removal of the entire existing interior structure. The interior did not meet current code or structural requirements for the new state-of-the-art museum.

The exterior shell was preserved in an attempt to reintroduce and reinforce the district's historical base. Bold colors were used to announce the renovation, accented by a modern canopy that serves to enhance the visitor's experience and the pedestrian focus of the downtown area.

Large exterior windows are utilized, as much as possible, to allow a view into the modern interior.

The traditional exterior skin bounds a contemporary play of space and light on the interior. Natural materials such as wood, steel and terrazzo work together through varying balconies that wrap around the planetarium core. Terrazzo, black with specks of pearl white, acts as a background canvas of space to anchor the cosmic theme.

Beyond, a rear atrium stands as a nucleus to the exhibit spaces that surround it, giving special reference to the visitors.

The museum is organized around a first floor reception, retail store, main gallery, multiple meeting rooms and curatorial support functions. A monumental stair takes the visitor past atrium exhibits to a second level, where a 40-ft. domed planetarium anchors other gallery and office functions.

The third floor will serve as future expansion and archival storage.