Wild California

California Academy of Science

Retrofitted into the Old North American Mammal Hall, the design of Wild California required a balance of tradition and innovation. To accomplish this, the hall was thematically organized by terrestrial and marine ecosystems with the Farallon Islands anchoring the hall.

The Farallon Island experience is a thrilling walk around naturalistic sculpture supported by an eight-channel sound program and backed up with a remarkable 30,000-gallon aquarium.

Six existing dioramas were preserved and renovated, significantly increasing their potential for interpretive information and storytelling.

Elegant naturalist field notes are the graphic elements that help tie the exhibit experience together. They are flanked by brief interactive video presentations that bring the diorama scenes alive with exquisite live footage.

The interior architectural treatment retained the character of the old hall while improving the acoustics, lighting and general visitor comfort.

Four new interpretive dioramas were created to immerse the visitor into: a beached kelp wrack eye-to eye-with a rove beetle; a tidal marsh at mud level; a drop of seawater to swim through; and a rocky shore for a side by side comparison of high and low tides.