Museum Exhibit Design
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Posted by: nath_gray ® 03/04/2009, 20:51:59 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hi Everyone! This is a rather random question, and I have no idea if I'm even in the right place to post this, but I'll go ahead and see what you guys have to say. O.k. so me and some colleagues at university are designing a new museum exhibition. My exhibit/display is a raised walkway that follows the curved back wall of the exhibition hall. The walkway is split into 6 sections, all roughly 15-20 feet long and has access ramps at both ends. (I have attached a picture to give you a basic idea of what I mean). As part of the design report for this project I need a price for the walkway. Now - as this is for a competition and assessment there is only a very slim chance of the actual exhibit being made, and therefore the few design firms I have spoken to have been rather reluctant to give me a quote (Which is fully understandable). I am now asking if ANYONE can give me a rough idea of how much it might cost to build thins thing. I don't need specifics. Just take a look at the image and take a guess if you want! I could really do with something to write in the "price to build" section, even if it's a complete guess! As I'm sure yours will be more accurate than mine! Many Thanks in anticipation. Nathan Gray

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: Museum Exhibit Design
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Posted by: Marky ® 03/05/2009, 08:19:28 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hmmmm....Looks like homework. I'll bow out....

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Posted by: nath_gray ® 03/05/2009, 09:28:38 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Well .. As explained ly, it sort of is 'homework'. But this is not the main part of it. Im not an engineer, or a designer, im a scientist, and my brief is to design something to communicate my chosen peice of science. The actual structural plans and pricing are almost irrelevent, as the main bulk of my report is based on what im putting on those walls and on the screens to communicate my points. However it would be nice to include a very rough estimate of how much the structre may cost too. I hope that clears up any idea that im looking for an easy way out, as actually im creating more work for myself by including this in the report. Although I understand if nobody wants to help. Many Thanks again Nathan

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Posted by: Kelly Bramble ® 03/05/2009, 14:17:06 Author Profile eMail author Edit

"The actual structural plans and pricing are almost irrelevent" These elements and others (schedule, environmental, materials, etc..) are unavoidable/pounded into our heads/stress sources in engineering. I don't think it is possible to properly estimate the estimate without much more detail. Think of it like "How does it cost to build Trump Towers?" but, I have no ideal how strong, where, materials, number of rooms, etc.. Modified by Kelly Bramble at Thu, Mar 05, 2009, 14:19:11

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Posted by: Marky ® 03/05/2009, 09:45:10 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Nathan....As in any project..there needs to be guidlines. Some of them are timeframe and cost/budget. You as the Project Manager you need to tell me what my budget is. Give us a budgetary number....$1000.....$1,000,000 A small budget (<$1000) gets you a cardboard and plywood "death trap"....The more money...gets you a properly engineered safe design. One point that I would make is that your design should not have people coming off the floor....safety and code issues. Simply have free standing walls to display your product. You are leaving us wide open here....I'm sure others will agree. I would simply google "Show Displays" Good Luck

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Posted by: nath_gray ® 03/04/2009, 20:53:07 Author Profile eMail author Edit

A second image. Many Thanks

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Posted by: rwolfejr ® 03/05/2009, 10:09:29 Author Profile eMail author Edit

I'll toss you a "not thoroughly thought through" guess... Plywood and 2x4's and cheap labor... maybe 10,000 to 15,000? Makes a big difference elevating and 10 foot sections vs. 15 foot sections because of standard lengths of the materials and quantity etc. Steel channel or beams, decking, railing, cheap labor... maybe looking at 20,000 to 30,000? With your ramps and the longer length sections you're looking at around 120 feet of bridge. Pure guess...

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Posted by: randykimball ® 03/05/2009, 15:21:06 Author Profile eMail author Edit

If this is to be of wood you should have no problem figuring the footages and getting down to a lumber, nails, screws cost within a small margin easily. You do not need help, you need energy. In fact, the effort you spent drawing the presentation got you a fair distance down the path. You are in school, do the work. ----big fatherly smile---- The worst suggestion of your lifetime may be the catalyst to the grandest idea of the century, never let suggestions go unsaid nor fail to listen to them.

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