Work
services
media
People
About
Work
services
media
People
About
© DLR Group 2020
(Re)Opening Exhibitions
Pathways to
Queuing
Entry
Entry
Flexible Exhibition Space
Flexible Exhibition Space
Lobby + Event Space
Lobby + Event Space
Collections Archive
Collections Archive
Flexible Venue + Simulcast Space
Flexible Venue + Simulcast Space
The coronavirus pandemic has forced us to remain indoors within environments we can control. This has severely impacted the role arts play in our daily lives and routines. The museum industry, which accounts for over $15 billion in revenue, has pivoted to thoughtful, curated online resources, but the joy of personally experiencing works of art, experimenting with science, and exploring children’s activities are lacking.
What will museums now and in the
following months look like?
How do we interact with museums and galleries during a health crisis?
DLR Group has developed financial, operations, and physical strategies to successfully reposition museums for the future.
the new museum experience
Queuing
Use outdoor space as an extension of the lobby and to share museum messaging.
Timed-ticket arrivals limit crowds using touchless ticket scanners and controlled traffic patterns.
Clear one-way paths of travel through the lobby
to concessions, retail, restrooms, and seating.
Repurpose meeting rooms and even outdoor spaces for program simulcasts.
Highly flexible exhibition spaces allow for one-way access and creative new displays for work.
Archives and other back of house spaces need careful attention for all staff and deliveries.
For a copy of our guide,
please get in touch: cduke@dlrgroup.com
Let's Chat
QUEUING
ENTRY
Lobby + Event Space
Flexible Venue + Simulcast Space
Flexible Exhibition Space
Collections Archive
Exterior spaces--including alleyways--can be blocked off for VIP receptions, meet and greets, or other focused group options either related to the event inside the venue or as a stand-alone gathering.
Waiting Experience
Existing outdoor public space can also be repurposed for opening receptions, festivals, markets, or other activities using the green space as a buffer between uses or to suggest movement of people.
Landscape as Buffer
Many museums have unique lobby sizes and access points. Public outdoor spaces that are often under used can provide socially-distanced visitor queuing.
Outdoor as Extension of Lobby
If possible, offer one-way entrances and exits in restrooms to limit crowding in confined spaces.
Restroom Entry & Exit Separation
Creating a one-way direction and staggered access within locker areas can limit crowding.
Locker Circulation
Extending exhibitions beyond standard interior-only access offers new use of the outdoors. Curtainwalls with movable walls or additional entrances allow visitors to use green space for access or overflow or socially distanced event seating.
Indoor/Outdoor Opportunity
Many museums have outdoor assets that are significantly under used and can provide opportunities to increase visitor event participation. Projection systems or large-format LED video walls can provide outdoor seats with a view of the collection or special programming.
Event Expansion
Exhibition design can also contribute to providing clear, one-way routes through galleries. Reducing the works on view and using temporary wall systems allows extra space between objects and visitors. In addition, limits can be placed on the number of visitors in each gallery.
Reduce Large Exhibition Space
Even with reduced capacity, galleries can quickly feel cramped and avoiding bottlenecks are important. Once in galleries, visitors can be placed in a queuing system—six feet apart per patron or per group—that directs them along a clearly marked, one-way path through the exhibit to reduce crossover and congregating.
Free Flow vs. Linear Flow
Staff safety and wellness is equally important to those of visitors. Back-of-house curatorial prep and collections storage areas, research areas, exhibit fabrication spaces, office space, and exhibit load-in require careful analysis of access, touchpoints, air quality, and work-task procedures.
Exhibition vs. Visitors
Helping visitors best experience outdoor programming can be part of the fun. Painted social distancing circles allow small groups to maintain distance while still enjoying the outdoors or a premiere show.
Outdoor Activity
Information provided to patrons, staff, and volunteers that is clear, consistent, and visible goes a long way to successfully reopening and operating your museum. Digital podiums offer opportunities for real-time policies and prcedures, admissions pricing, special event information, and other news.
Digital Projection Podium
Timed entry and thoughtful queuing also reduces overcrowding.
Self-serve Scanning Stations
Click below to explore
For museums with auditoriums or lecture halls, a one-way queuing system should load the auditorium from the front to the back and from the center of rows out. Exiting the auditorium would reverse the procedure in which the back of the house exits first, moving toward the front in a timed sequence.
Metered Arrival / Departure
Touchless ticketing check-in kiosks are a good way to reiterate policy. Once a ticket is scanned in, the display can list the rules that visitors should acknowledge before entering the facility.
Self-serve Scanning Stations
canopy
queuing
landscape
To reduce entry/exit sequences and reduce crowding, strategies similar to an amusement park “fast-pass” allows patrons to stagger arrival times, wait in a designated area at a safe distance from each other, or wait elsewhere until it is their time to enter the venue.
Indoor & Outdoor Queuing
Merchandise and exhibit spaces can offer one-way visitor flow to maintain social distancing guidelines. In museum shops, opportunities for pre-purchases or app purchases can prevent potential cash wrap counter issues.
Separate Entry and Exit
or contact us now