Hall of Continents Renovation

The renovation process for the Hall of Continents started by taking out a drop ceiling and ripping out the old floors. The walls or wood paneling were taken down to expose the north quartzite wall. The office towards the back of the picture was removed opening up the room and creating more space for displays. By removing the fall ceiling, the exposed beams now create a similar feel from the rest of the building.

The gallery lighting provides a perfect amount of light to create a cozy and comfortable environment. The large open windows bring in great natural light from the south. Large Photo-Voltaic panels are mounted to the roof of the Hall of Continents which provides the museum with about 13% of its energy.

1. Bamboo Flooring- The flooring in the Hall of Continents is probably the most dominant feature in this hall. The bamboo flooring in this room is attractive along with being very durable. Bamboo is a very fast renewable resource which some species of bamboo can grow up to 48 inches in 24 hours. Bamboo can grow and be replaced much quicker than trees. Bamboo shoots can also re-grow where tree stumps are left behind from deforestation.

2. Solar Panels – Not visible from the inside of the room but on top of the roof of the Hall of Continents is our photovoltaic panels or solar panels. These panels provide us with up to 13% of the energy required for our facility.