Location: California Science Center, Los Angeles
We are proud to be working with the California Science Center in Los Angeles on a bespoke showcase for its new Working in Space exhibition. The project demonstrates the level of detailed engineering and pre-installation planning required when developing a highly bespoke showcase for an international museum project.
The showcase forms part of the Science Center’s landmark expansion, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a 200,000-square-foot addition that will significantly expand the institution’s exhibition space. The new galleries will bring together authentic aerospace artefacts and interactive experiences, including the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which will be displayed in its full launch configuration.
For the Working in Space exhibit, Click Netherfield was commissioned to design and manufacture a fully bespoke showcase, engineered specifically around the existing gallery architecture. One of the key challenges was the relationship between the showcase and an existing 24-inch concrete pillar within the gallery. Rather than requiring an independent structural solution, the case was designed to interface directly with the existing pillar, which provides its structural support once installed.
This interface required a high degree of precision, as the showcase had to be manufactured to accommodate the fixed dimensions and position of the existing architectural element. To manage this successfully, we incorporated the manufacture and assembly of a full-scale mock pillar into our production process. This allowed the complete showcase to be constructed and tested in our factory using a precise representation of the on-site conditions.
The full trial assembly provided an opportunity to verify the fit and interface between the bespoke case and supporting pillar, as well as to assess assembly sequencing, access and installation requirements before the showcase left the UK. This was particularly important given the international nature of the project, where resolving issues after shipment would have introduced significant logistical challenges and potential programme delays.
By replicating the critical site condition within our factory, the team was able to identify and address any potential issues in advance, providing greater certainty ahead of installation in Los Angeles. The approach demonstrates the value of Click Netherfield’s in-house manufacturing and engineering capabilities, allowing complex bespoke showcases to be fully developed, assembled and validated under controlled conditions before being transported to site.
The completed showcase forms part of the new Working in Space experience, combining bespoke engineering with the architectural requirements of the gallery to provide a carefully integrated display environment for the exhibition’s artefacts.
“I wanted to say again – it’s been a genuine pleasure working with you all and the install team. Your guys do you proud and they are a wonderful group and do excellent work. The case couldn’t have come together more beautifully, especially with odd conditions and never seeing the site. I am very pleased and the curators who have seen it are very impressed. I am really looking forward to working with you all on our next project ….”
Meg Dunfee, ROTO