Colorado-based architectural firm Fentress have revealed final plans for the US$150m (€138m, £99m) renovation and expansion of Cleveland’s Museum of Natural History after gaining approval from the museum’s board of trustees.

The plan, which aims to better integrate nature and science into exhibitions, is soon to enter the US$20m (€18m, £13.2m) first phase and will increase the museum's space to 200,000sq ft (18,500sq m), up from 68,000sq ft (6,300sq ft). The full redevelopment is expected to be completed by 2020 – the year of the museum’s 100th anniversary. The first phase will see the construction of a new wildlife centre featuring live plants and animals native to Ohio, a landscaped garden and visitor amenities.

Fentress’ masterplan features two large glass walls on the museum’s facade, one welcoming visitors into the main lobby, the other showcasing a range of life-size dinosaurs. The design also incorporates a series of ‘science studios’ – spaces to allow visitors to interact with scientists more directly than the traditional exhibition format would allow.

The expansion is being built to incorporate the existing Westlake Reed Leskosky–designed Shafran Planetarium, which first opened in 2002. The planetarium’s cylindrical form will, according to the architects, “play off craggy entryways, whose sharp angles are meant to evoke natural landforms.”

A team made up of UK-based engineering consultant BuroHappold, AECOM, and Cleveland-based Osborn Engineering are also working on the project, while Thinc Design and Reich+Petch are handling exhibition design. Ceveland’s Panzica are operating as construction managers while Gilbane are the general contractors.

“The amazing treasures held within our museum and our mission to improve science education compel us to undertake this major transformation of our facilities and exhibits,” said Dr. Evalyn Gates, executive director and CEO of the museum. “We are thrilled to begin realising our plans for creating a dynamic new museum that will play a critical role in building for the future of our community.”

Cleveland’s museum and gallery sector is currently undergoing a significant revamp and modernisation. The Cleveland Museum of Art completed a US$350m (€323m, £231.3m) redevelopment last year; the Cleveland Institute of Art will complete works in June; and the new Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA) - designed by Farshid Moussavi - moved to a new US$27m home in 2012.

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