A brand new way to see the wood from the trees.

Scion’s design for their sustainable wooden building at their main campus in Rotorua is part of the Crown Research Institute’s broader redevelopment. Te Whare Nui o Tuteata visibly demonstrates Scion’s commitment to innovation in forestry, manufacturing, energy and bio-circular economies.

We worked closely with Scion’s experts to develop an interpretive design and framework for their building entrance showcase. It is an area that tells stories of research and innovation.

We developed and designed a light, open zone of exhibition cases, interpretive panels and interactives to provide insights into Scion’s work through bespoke installations that reflected the ‘all-wood’ design ethic of the new building.

Our role

  • Interpretive design
  • Fabrication and installation
  • Ongoing site support and maintenance

An experience designed for accessible learning

Interactive displays feature in the entrance area. The showcase provides a gateway experience that reflects Scion’s position as a leader in forestry research and stimulates thinking about the role of science in tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges. It is a place to share information about all the things that can be made from trees – which is almost everything now made from petrochemicals.

In three hybrid interactives, visitors are invited to investigate tactile cubes of material by sliding them ‘under the microscope’. The sliders unlock video and images detailing the material’s development and application.

Display cases present unique objects ranging from transparent timber samples to a 3-D printed model of a kauri phytophthora infection (kauri dieback). A colourful graphic approach based around three distinct themes showcases the exhibition’s locally sourced timber materials.

Gibson International collaborated with

Toulouse Group, Anderson Design Ltd

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