Roto, a leading planning & design-build firm, has announced that construction has begun on its innovative new museum project in Scioto Audubon Park, Columbus, Ohio, following the completion of the design, engineering, and permitting process. The firm has also revealed that the name of the new attraction is Prototype: The Experimental Museum. It expects to finish interior fit-out and exhibit installation by Labor Day 2025, with tickets available shortly after.
The newly announced name captures the museum’s ethos of inviting visitors to be direct
participants in the iteration of new and inventive experiences.
Immersive, supersensory experiences
Prototype will offer immersive, supersensory experiences that fully utilise the facility’s 17-foot ceilings and versatile black-box theatre setup. David Kozan, one of the project’s lead architectural designers, says: “Each gallery more closely resembles a sound stage for a film than a traditional ‘museum’ interior. This allows us to quickly test and adapt our boldest ideas.”
The opening day will showcase a variety of experimental exhibits, including large kinetic artworks, innovative digital environments, unique sensory illusions, immersive films, sound studios, and a virtual reality salon.
“We are developing applications with advanced software tools and environments that people haven’t yet seen in museums anywhere,” says Nick Braun, Roto VP of interactive media. Braun’s team includes digital artists, sound composers, motion graphic designers, and seasoned software developers, many of whom have prior experience at major game studios such as 2K and Microsoft.
Focusing on experiential innovation, Prototype will cover a broad range of disciplines, echoing the diverse institutions that Roto’s design business supports. The exhibits will span various fields, including technology, music, fine art, dance, design, animation, nature, environment, anthropology, psychology, demography, history, religion, and popular culture.
Exploring new ideas
“Creativity is bred by curiosity,” says Joseph Wisne, Prototype’s founder. “Our inspiration for new experimental exhibits begins with our team’s deep curiosity about the world. In turn, the museum will offer curious people unprecedented ways to explore their own creative thoughts and emotions.”
This open approach lets Prototype explore and test new ideas and methods that many museums cannot or would not.
“Prototype is where edgy meets experimental,” says Dana Russell, Roto partner and VP of brand & culture. “It is designed for adults seeking something bold and provocative, making Prototype a prime destination for date nights, group outings, or anyone craving an unexpected adventure.”
Prototype’s offerings are anticipated to consistently adapt and enhance, drawing from ongoing collaborations with Roto’s museum client projects, encompassing various museums, science centres, aquariums, and other non-profit partners. Experiences launched on opening day will undergo frequent updates for improvement, typically influenced by visitor feedback.
Quality community partnerships, particularly with non-profit, arts, and educational institutions, are also at the heart of Prototype’s experimental approach. Currently, Prototype is engaged in active discussions with BalletMet, the Columbus Symphony, Champaign Aviation Museum, and MeImage, a performing arts organisation from Taiwan, as well as several others in the works.
“Together we’re bringing the public something unique and unexpected that neither organization could do alone. That’s the heart of excellence in non-profit partnerships,” adds Wisne.
Updates on Prototype’s progress, job postings, and future ticket reservations can be found on the museum’s website.
Last month, Roto reflected on key projects and activities from 2024, which marked its 20th anniversary. The company has experienced rapid expansion over the past 20 years. It is positioned to use its “supersensory” approach and technical expertise to create cutting-edge immersive and interactive experiences for the museum and attractions sectors through the next ten years and beyond.
