Nevada Discovery Museum

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Posted by: Crystal - 3/9/2007 9:34:35 AM
Any news on how this projectis coming along? It doesnt look like anything is under construction, same ole' city hall.

Posted by: Dave S - 3/11/2007 9:58:48 AM
I was wondering when this is going to be built too. I think it's one of the more essential projects downtown. Anybody know when they are going to break ground?

Posted by: Brett - 3/26/2007 10:23:40 AM
This project is more important than any of the condo projests on the boards and way more interesting than another "ultra lounge." In fact it's one of the few things that I've seen proposed that I can't react cynically to. Hopefully this isn't just another pretty picture but something that will soon become bricks and mortar.

Posted by: Mike Van H - 3/26/2007 1:10:13 PM
I agree Brett! I have an email into Chris Riche to ask fo a status report, I will post it as soon as I get one. Last time I checked, he already had completed the capital-raising phase of it, with the help of may donations from local businesses and the City of Reno.

Posted by: Ryan - 5/31/2007 9:45:30 AM
Sounds like a "Challenger Learning Center" may share the space. http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070524/NEWS10/705240339/1016/NEWS

Posted by: Justin - 11/1/2007 5:33:58 AM
Just an update....it looks like the target opening date has been pushed back until Spring 2009 based on their website. I really support their efforts and think this is a very worthwhile project. I'm wondering if this delay is due to a shortfall of money. I've heard practically nothing about this project in the local news media....someone needs to get the word out there.

Posted by: Mike Van H - 11/1/2007 11:17:39 PM
Greetings Justin. I can tell you its actively under construction. I hear banging, ripping, sawing, drilling etc coming from the building every day. Remember, they are literally ripping apart the entire interior including walls, infrastructure etc. They are raising nearly all the money from scratch, so this construction project, although consistently moving forward, isnt moving as fast as say the Montage. There isnt a crew of 200 working on the Discovery Museum, Im not sure how many are working on it, but I am guessing maybe 5-15. I could be wrong though, thats just around how many workers I have seen go in there from time to time.

Posted by: Justin - 11/2/2007 5:34:19 AM
Thanks for the update! :)

Posted by: Anne Vohl - 12/28/2007 10:25:52 AM
The old City Hall is, to me, one of the few nice-looking buildings in downtown Reno. It is my view from my law office window. I hope that whatever its future use its exterior design is not altered. I hate what happened to the old Virginia Street Convention Center, and fear the same for this building if some restraint is not used.

Posted by: Justin - 12/29/2007 8:58:28 AM
I'm sorry, but the old city hall building is BORING. Besides, it's going to be a Childrens Museum so I'm sure they will use bold colors and differing angles in the design in order to create some interest and a sense of "liveliness". In it's current form there is nothing nice or unique about the building IMO. It could be a million different buildings in a million different cities around the world. As for the Convention Center Virginia Street frontage design, I often hear this complaint and laugh. It's not perfect, but surely it's better than the giant white box that preceeded it (and still remains on the other sides)? Oh well, you can't please everyone.

Posted by: RenoSteve - 1/3/2008 5:56:28 AM
Aileen, See Mike's link here... http://www.downtownmakeover.com/downtown_reno/Nevada_Discovery_Museum.asp

Posted by: Paul Hauser - 1/17/2008 9:20:55 AM
Updating your information on the status of the NDM: The construction drawings were submitted to the City of Reno Building Department for plan check and review on 1/11/08. The City will take 8 - 10 weeks to review and comment on those drawings. Once we pull our building permit, the General Contractor, Q & D Construction, will require 12 -13 months to complete the project. The current building abatement contractor will complete his work by 2/10/08. Paul Hauser NDM Facilities Chair

Posted by: Anne Vohl - 1/30/2008 1:15:10 PM
Justin, I disagree. I think the old City Hall is very different looking inside and out. Have traveled the world, and have never seen anything like it. Quite unique. I don't know who the architect was, but I think he/she did a good job. Of course, the architect of Convention Cnter was Richard Neutra, and we have completely obliterated his work. Whether or not children will enjoy and benefit from a children's museum has noting whatsoever to do with color on the outside. Consider the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Consider Boston Museum of Science. Consider Franklin Institute in PHiladelphia. It is what is inside of the museum that counts fo children.

Posted by: Jennifer - 9/19/2008 2:47:00 PM
I really hope they go through with this project. One of the things reno really needs is a museum.We need this for our children and our entire town.

Posted by: Anne Vohl - 4/9/2009 7:15:10 PM
Jennifer, Reno has a number of museums, some quite nice for children: Nevada Museum of Art, Nevada Historical Society Museum at UNR, Wilbur May Museum at Rancho San Raphael Park, Harrah's Auto Museum, not to mention the Planetarium, probably others as well. It would be good to have a Children's Museum, but let's have it be something that can be a learning experience, not just some pretty scenery. Creating a museum is an art and a science, not to be done in haste. It is done gradually, not put up like a stage setting. I have a background in museum work, and therefore kind of understand it from the inside out.

Posted by: Anne Vohl - 4/9/2009 7:32:42 PM
P.S. I do think the little pictures of proposed facades ae pretty bad looking. This is my view from office window, so I am personally concerned. Beyond that, many people prefer not to bring their children into the downtown of Reno. People prefer museums to be located in a parklike setting. There is so much emptly unused land all around Reno. Why put a museum in a place with limited parking, and no room for expansion, and surrounded by aging buildings waiting to be torn down, casinos, and sex clubs. It is experdient but not appropriate.

Posted by: DowntownMakeoverDude - 4/9/2009 8:48:15 PM
Hi Anne, I have to disagreee with you on several fronts.....the three children's museums I know about are all located in downtown settings, and the one in Carson is in a downtown setting as well. I went quite often to the children's museum located 2 blocks from city hall in downtown Los Angeles, a neighborhood much rougher than downtown Reno, and parents had no issues. There is not limited parking for the Nevada Discovery Museum, there is actually quite a bit of parking. I don't think the exterior of the building is as important as the interior, and I know all of their exhibits in depth, and can tell you with great certainly that learning is objective here, not just pretty eye candy. If parents don't like to take their children downtown, then why is the Truckee River FILLED with children every day during the summer? You also taking into account the budget that this project has....and that this is an ideal adaptive re-use of an older building.

Posted by: Justin - 4/10/2009 7:10:14 AM
This is a GREAT project that deserves to be supported. As for its location, downtown is completely appropriate. That way it will serve tourists who may be traveling w/ children and natives alike. I am trying really hard not to be insulting, but I honestly don't get some of you people. What city/year are you living in? Have you ever traveled outside of Reno to a larger city? I'm just trying to gain some perspective because honestly I go downtown all the time and it isn't half as bad as some of you claim so I'm wondering what you're comparing it to. And for the record, I'm not a California refuge you all love to bash. I'm a 31 year old 2nd-generation Native Nevadan/Renoite. FWIW, I have a friend that lives right next to this building and I see no reason why parking will be an issue and as far as the facade goes, it looks fine. It's supposed to be be fun and colorful. They want people to know it's a Children's Museum. If they left the exterior too close in appearance to what it is now people would likely pass right by it thinking it's just another office building.

Posted by: stu - 6/18/2009 6:07:40 PM
Why is the welcome in spanish?

Posted by: remano - 6/18/2009 9:10:25 PM
"Posted by: stu - 6/18/2009 6:07:40 PM Why is the welcome in spanish?" Stu's right! And while we're at it, why is it called the "Nevada" Discovery Museum. We all know that "Nevada" is another Spanish word. Why make that part of the title? Seriously, we're talking here about two speculative renditions of what the final design might look like. On the one to the left the sign over the building says "Discovery," which, to the best of my knowledge, is English. On the one to the right the larger message is "Bienvenidos" which is Spanish, but under that is again the word "Discovery." So of three words in the drawings, English prevails two to one. So, what's the point, Stu? Why the problem with one word being in Spanish? And what about the thousands of words in the 125 page planning document where none are in Spanish except, again, the word "Nevada"? So, tell us again, what's the point? I don't know you personally so maybe I have the wrong take on this, but it looks to me like there is no point but to be racist and divisive on a project that really can be a great improvement to downtown Reno.

Posted by: David - 6/20/2009 11:02:10 PM
Actually Remano, I think that he was just posting an innocent question. Don't be so quick to jump on someone, especially when the only thing that you have to judge their character and intent on is less than 10 words on a website. People who assume racism where it doesn't exist contribute almost as much to the problem as those who are genuinely racist.

Posted by: remano - 6/21/2009 9:36:21 AM
David, Fair enough. I did say I didn't know him personally and could have the wrong interpretation of the comment. If that's the case, I'm out of line.

Posted by: Bugsy - 6/21/2009 8:22:11 PM
Your exactly right David... Thats why I cant stand Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson

Posted by: stu - 11/8/2009 7:37:10 PM
Hey Remano, I just read your comment, very nice. It seems to me that you read race into everything to the point of obsession. You made a judgement about me but I won't make one about you. But I will leave you with this, racist is a word and judgement that should not be taken lightly. But when you start throwing it around like fish in a market you shut down all discussion and arguments. I made a comment about the language of Spanish being used for the welcome and from that you derived race. Remano, the last time I checked nobody is born a spanish speaker, its something you learn. Race is something your born with and something you can never change. Anybody in the world can become a spanish speaker but unless you are born a Spaniard no amount or learning will make you a Spaniard. So Remano, this has nothing to do with race but everything to do with linguistics