Located at the edge of Milwaukee’s urban center and near the newly re-invigorated entertainment district, the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin is poised to create a flurry of activity, attracting a wide range of visitors with dynamic interior spaces and landscaped outdoor spaces that invite people to explore the diverse natural and cultural history of Wisconsin.
Influenced by the ecological histories of Milwaukee and Wisconsin, both formed by the movements of water through time, the museum’s design takes ques from the geological formations at Mill Bluff State Park and the experiential qualities that their exploration holds. The building image, the choreography of its spaces, its exhibits and its landscape all work together in concert to leave one lasting impression —the curiosity and excitement that is Wisconsin’s natural landscapes, its cultures, and the awe and wonder that they invoke.
At the heart of the vision for the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin is a desire to explore the intersections of nature and culture and to showcase their renown collections containing over 4 million specimens, which range from the Natural (Botany, Zoology, and Geology) to the Cultural (Regional, Indigenous, Euro-American History and Technology).
The Museum Commons, located at ground level and visible from the exterior, serves as a vibrant, welcoming community space where the three main entrances converge, creating a distinctive civic destination. In concert with the museum’s gardens, this pre-ticket experience creates a welcoming entry which is inviting for all to explore.
GGN, Landscape Architect
On its roof, permanent exhibit galleries open onto a generous rooftop terrace with dramatic views over the Milwaukee Skyline. Envisioned as both an interpretive garden and outdoor classroom, the rooftop terrace also acts as a destination event space that can be utilized well into the shoulder seasons.