Royal British Columbia Museum

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

In partnership with John McAslan + Partners who are located in London, UK, omb was commissioned to design both the Masterplan and Phase I of the RBCM renewal project, which involved a renovation to the ground floor. Our goal was to transform the museum into a refreshed modern dynamic forum for discussion and reflection on British Columbia through the exploration of human and natural history. Situated on Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the Museum is the critical connecting node to many of Victoria’s key pathways. Our Masterplan identified opportunities to integrate with both existing and proposed urban connections, while enhancing the Museum’s Public Realm and entrance experience. Within the buildings, we identified opportunities to refresh the exhibition experience, safeguard the archive and protect the collections while managing change and growth in a sustainable manner. As an initial task in a series of projects to come over the next few years, omb re-imagined the museum visitor entry experience. A series of concentrated interventions within the existing museum lobby bring clarity and focus to arriving patrons. The work includes new ticketing counters, the consolidation of the information program into centralized visual stations, and the introduction of more meaningful and impactful environmental graphics and way-finding.