This exhibit was designed and completed while employed at Reich&Petch. The exhibit has a broad perspective, helping visitors learn from the past and understand global change over time. The exhibits integrate collections and knowledge from many departments of the museum, including Mineral Sciences, Paleobiology, Botany, Entomology, Vertebrate Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, and Anthropology.
Unlike virtually every other paleontology exhibit, The Hall illustrates how humans are a result of the forces of evolution, and how we are currently affecting global change and the Earth’s future. A major challenge of the project was working with the museum to translate and illustrate 3.7 billion years of biological history and global collections.
Under the tutelage of the Reich&Petch principals and senior exhibit designers I helped with the design development of environmental graphics within the exhibit. Responsibilities included designing graphic elements, script flow, signage, schematic maps, illustrative/image procurement, and graphic production.

Photo by the Smithsonian Institution; Overview of the gallery from above

Photo by Vivien Chow, RPDI; Ice Age Humans statue and graphic

Photo by Miguel Montalvo, SI NMNH; Triassic period Tyrannosaurus Rex display case

Triassic period display case elevation diagram.


Photo by Miguel Montalvo, SI NMNH; Close up of one of the scale environmental models

Photo by Miguel Montalvo, SI NMNH; Periodical environmental models

Photo by Miguel Montalvo, SI NMNH; End of cretaceous extinction wall

Flow of life, Mass Extinction wall graphic elevation diagram.


Photo by Vivien Chow, RPDI; Permian environmental graphic and inforails

Photo by Miguel Montalvo, SI NMNH; Early Life in the Ocean display case

Photo by Miguel Montalvo, SI NMNH; Early Life in the Ocean display case

Photo by the Smithsonian Institution; View of the secondary exhibit entrance from the African voices gallery; Giant sequoia tree slab, Deep Time Timeline graphic

Photo by Vivien Chow, RPDI; Fossil Basecamp Education Center

Photo by Miguel Montalvo, SI NMNH; Early life on Land Display Cases

Photo by Vivien Chow, RPDI; Fossil Basecamp Education Center; Interactive rock layers drawers

Photo by Vivien Chow, RPDI; Fossil Basecamp Education Center

Photo by the Smithsonian Institution; View of the main entrance of the exhibit from the rotunda