Science Museum of Virginia — Lorenzo Mattii

SIGHTING -
Locating the Events Center took queues from the axial alignment of the ticketing hall beneath the rotunda and the old waiting hall spanning the railroad tracks — SIGHTING - Locating the Events Center took queues from the axial alignment of the ticketing hall beneath the rotunda and the old waiting hall spanning the railroad tracks

DUAL‑USE -
The Events Center needed its own dedicated entrance and drop‑off area, separate from regular Museum operations, while still maintaining direct internal access from the Museum. — DUAL‑USE - The Events Center needed its own dedicated entrance and drop‑off area, separate from regular Museum operations, while still maintaining direct internal access from the Museum.

THRESHOLD -
Using the geometry of the covered ramps accessing the tracks, a boundary wall runs parallel to the tracks — THRESHOLD - Using the geometry of the covered ramps accessing the tracks, a boundary wall runs parallel to the tracks

GEOMETRY -
Drawing on the platonic geometries of the historic Beaux‑Arts building—where the pendentive system channels the rotunda’s heavy forces downward—the Events Center roof takes a contrasting approach. Its edges lift upward, creating a form th — GEOMETRY - Drawing on the platonic geometries of the historic Beaux‑Arts building—where the pendentive system channels the rotunda’s heavy forces downward—the Events Center roof takes a contrasting approach. Its edges lift upward, creating a form that appears to defy gravity.

INTERSECTING GEOMETRIES -
While the historic building is symmetrical and rectilinear in its alignment with Main Street, the waiting hall needed to span the railroad tracks running diagonally beneath it. The roof form draws from these two intersectin — INTERSECTING GEOMETRIES - While the historic building is symmetrical and rectilinear in its alignment with Main Street, the waiting hall needed to span the railroad tracks running diagonally beneath it. The roof form draws from these two intersecting geometries: an inverted barrel vault oriented perpendicular to the tracks is intersected by a rectilinear plan. This geometric subtraction produces a roof that appears irregular, yet can be fabricated from the repeated use of a single steel truss.

WATER COLLECTION -
The roof was shaped to collect rainwater for irrigating the surrounding landscape. Several above‑grade cisterns store this water and, in turn, help define and sculpt the site’s topography. — WATER COLLECTION - The roof was shaped to collect rainwater for irrigating the surrounding landscape. Several above‑grade cisterns store this water and, in turn, help define and sculpt the site’s topography.

Events Center, Aerial Rendering

Events Center, Main Entrance/Drop-Off Area

Events Center, Pre-Function Plaza

Events Center, Pre-Function Plaza

Events Center, Events/Traveling Exhibits Hall

Dewey Gottwald Center

Traveling Exhibit and Events Space Addition | Science Museum of Virginia | Richmond, VA

Design Team

Lorenzo Mattii, AIA - Principal, Design Lead | While previously employed by Pfeiffer - A Perkins Eastman Company
Sean Tittle - Designer | Pfeiffer - A Perkins Eastman Company

Design Firm: Pfeiffer - A Perkins Eastman Company

Architect of Record: BCWH | Now Quinn Evans Architects

Photography: Chris Cunningham