Congratulations to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, a long-term repeat Main Street Design client, on taking another huge step in the transformation of their Memorial Park campus. HANC just opened their state-of-the-art new nature playscape, a hands-on, minds-on, whole body, nature-...
Main Street Design is delighted to announce the completion of our memorial trail at the Dorothy Hamm Middle School in Arlington, Virginia. In conjunction with its renovation and expansion, the former Stratford Junior High School – originally named for Robert E. Lee’s plantation – was renamed to...
The Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California has opened its new Redwood Sky Walk for limited capacity testing of interpretive components developed by Main Street Design. Simple, unobtrusive graphics were designed to provide information without interfering with the guests’ direct experience of...
Congratulations to the Houston Zoo on their receipt of both a 2020 AZA Green Award, Significant Achievement, and Special Recognition from the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Parks and Natural Areas for the Katherine G. McGovern Texas Wetlands. Main Street is proud to have provided interpretive...
Main Street Design is proud to have been selected by the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina to provide interpretive planning and design for a comprehensive transformation and expansion of the Zoo’s Aquarium and Reptile Center. The new project, designed by GLMV Zoos, will...
Nature’s Neighborhoods at Zoo New England’s Franklin Park Zoo was recently recognized with a design award by the American Society of Landscape Architects' Florida Chapter which will be presented during their Design Awards Gala in Orlando on November 6th. Michael Mercadante will be attending the...
Main Street is in the process of finishing Schematic Design for the Montana Heritage Center, a new 50,000sf state history museum in the capitol, Helena. Our work involves a strong collaborative relationship with the Montana Historical Society's project team and with the project architects,...
Main Street’s President, Michael Mercadante, will be a featured speaker at the popular On the Boards session of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2020 annual conference. Every year, this highly selective session showcases innovative exhibit projects that are still in the design or...
Nature’s Neighborhoods at Zoo New England’s Franklin Park Zoo has recently been recognized with design awards by both the Boston Society of Landscape Architects and the American Society of Landscape Architects' Florida Chapter.
The Boston jury chose Nature’s Neighborhoods for a Design...
Run of the River, Main Street’s new permanent exhibition for the Maymont Nature Center in Richmond, Virginia finally opens on July 2nd after being delayed for three months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Visitors will be able to explore the amazing biodiversity of the James River. Click here to...
THINK at Science North recently received the 2020 CASCADE AWARD for BEST EXHIBIT or SHOW, LARGE INSTITUTION from CASC (Canadian Association of Science Centers). Designed in collaboration with Science North staff and Hands On! Studio, and fabricated by kubik maltbie and Creative Machines, THINK...
In March, just as the pandemic was accelerating, Main Street started Schematic Design for the Montana Heritage Center, a new 50,000sf state history museum in the capitol, Helena. We provided interpretive master planning for the Heritage Center back in 2009, and as we resumed work on the project...
Even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the intrepid crew from Building Four Fabrication have been hard at work installing Run of the River, Main Street’s new permanent exhibition for the Maymont Nature Center in Richmond, Virginia. Pictured here are the beaver lodge gathering place and, in...
Main Street Design is in final production of interpretive experiences for Primate Forest and Polar Passage at the Oregon Zoo, two of the first projects mentioned on Blooloop’s list of 16 new zoo and aquarium projects to watch in 2020. Primate Forest and Polar Passage break new ground in...
Main Street is delighted to be providing interpretive concept development and design for a transformative new initiative at California’s oldest zoo. Working in collaboration with Greenway Partners of Arcata, California and Sequoia Park Zoo staff and stakeholders, we are creating a unique suite...
Renovations are now underway for the Houston Arboretum's Nature Center. For more updates on the project, click here. Updates to the Discovery Room include a log where children can learn about decomposition, and a crawl through area for children to explore and learn about the underground prairie...
The death of almost half the trees at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center has encouraged a total reevaluation of its 155 acres, all the way down to the soil and the seeds. The Houston Chronicle lists Main Street Design amoung the master planning team that includes Lake/Flato Architects,...
We are please to announce the completion of Texas Wetlands, a new exhibit at the Houston Zoo featuring native wildlife with a pond, marsh area and underground zone for kids to explore. Main Street Design developed and designed the interpretive graphics that are integrated into a living working...
The Jekyll Island Authority engaged Main Street Design, in partnership with the Weber Group, to create new exhibitions and guest experiences for a complete renovation of the Jekyll Island Museum. The reimagined facility guides visitors through the rich cultural and natural history of Georgia's...
As President of the International Board of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), Michael Mercadante hosted the Thea Awards Gala at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California on Saturday, April 15th. This global event has been honoring achievement, talent and personal excellence in our...
We are delighted to announce the opening of THINK, an interactive exhibition and maker space at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario. This is the first comprehensive makeover of Science North’s very popular fourth floor in 35 years, and it represents the fifth major project that our firm has...
Michael Mercadante was recently elected to serve as International Board President of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), effective November 2018. In this exclusive interview by Joe Kleiman, Michael talks about his firm’s work, his design background and business philosophy, and shares his...
Main Street Design was involved in two projects listed as the 15 Coolest Zoo Exhibits in the U.S. for Families by Mommynearest - #4 Florida Mission Everglades at Zoo Miami and #6 Nature's Neighborhoods at the Franklin Park Zoo. Read the article by Sarah-Grace Sweeney with the full list of...
In a public city park in Richmond, Virginia, on the grounds of a great American estate, the Maymont Nature Center’s exhibits and educational programs introduce area residents to the wonders of the natural world in their own backyard. Aquarium tanks, a river otter habitat, and diverse science...
For a nearly 100 year old organization devoted to hiking and enabling public access to outdoor experiences, Main Street is working on two parallel initiatives.
At Bear Mountain State Park we are developing the second phase of Trails for People, a unique play-based exploration of trail...