VENTURA COUNTY DISCOVERY CENTER

The proposed Ventura County Discovery Center is a 60,000 square foot science center intended to be a regional destination point providing stimulating educational experiences for children of all ages. Located next to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, the new center is seen as a highly interactive environment where children and their families can come to explore the world of science through hands on displays, ongoing laboratory experiments and engaging 3-dimensional spaces. The entire building is conceived as an experiential text which tells the story of its own making as well as how structures can be formed in response to the needs of people, their communities and the natural resources we all share.

The geometry of the building is an exploration of intersecting elliptical forms intended to intensify the experience of moving through the spaces of the center. The entry pavilion, main exhibit hall and IMAX theater are all linked by a curving ramp structure which acts as the spine of the project. A large elliptical deck serves as a link to the park area adjacent to the project and also as a venue for a series of ongoing exterior displays and experiments. The Discovery Center is conceived as a collective community space for families to gather and share the excitement of learning in a unique environment.