When the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) broke ground in June 2021 on its $150 million transformation project, after raising $147 million in its multi-year Transforming the World of Discovery campaign, museum officials realized that even the smallest details would matter in the project.

As the University Circle facility expanded to more than 375,000 square feet; the outdoor visitor areas expanded to more than two acres; community access was broadened to include a 14,600-square-foot Visitor Hall and completely refurbished exhibits; and a museum space was created that would help everyone who walked through the doors to understand their connection with the natural world and the relevance of science to their daily lives, the CMNH staff took the distractions and construction in stride to ensure every visitor felt welcome and connected.

Sharma MeenakshiIn fact, the museum made the bold decision to remain open throughout most of the construction, which began in January 2020 just before the pandemic. “We decided to do it because we wanted to be relevant,” explains Meenakshi Sharma, CMNH senior vice president and chief strategy officer. “Doing a construction project and going through all this reimagining—it was not easy.”

The reimagined Cleveland Museum of Natural History was officially unveiled in December and the public has taken notice.

“We have over 100,000 people just through general admission in the first quarter of 2024, and that doesn’t include school groups and private events,” says Sharma. “From survey data from December 15 to March 31, we have 35% of people who had either never visited the museum or [haven’t] visited [in the past] five years. So they are new people—I consider them new people.”

Sonia Winner and Meenakshi Sharma at the OMA AwardsThe new CMNH has caught the attention of more than just its visitors. Earlier this month, the Ohio Museums Association (OMA) named CMNH 2024 Institution of the Year.

The award is presented annually to an Ohio organization that has demonstrated exemplary achievements in museum leadership, community engagement, innovative programming, best practices, and institutional impact.

“It is incredible recognition,” says Sharma. “I think it's an acknowledgment that we are leaders in science education, community engagement, and in sustainability.”

Sharma and CMNH president and CEO Sonia Winner joined fellow institutions and professionals to celebrate excellence in Ohio’s museum community on March 30, when they formally accepted the award at the OMA’s annual conference, Innovation: Museums and Reaching Our Potential.

Maintaining engagement

In 2023, Winner told FreshWater, “If the art museum is the community’s living room, then we are its family room. It’s all about life-long learning and turning kids onto science and nature.”

Two years later and four months after the CMNH transformation, Sharma has a slightly broader vision.

“In a natural history term, we have expanded to become an entire ecosystem,” she declares. “We have reimagined every single space that you will come and see.”

Sharma cites her presentation to the OMA when she recalls the before-and-after images as a great reminder of how far the museum has come in its transformation. “It's amazing,” she says. “If you remember, we used to have this open parking lot that's now a two-acre garden with native plants and all those things.

“We have a better technology-equipped distance learning studio [where] our educators are doing classes [that] they reach all over the world,” Sharma continues. “Our scientists are doing their research all over the world. So it's definitely more than family room.”

In addition to remaining open during the construction, the museum reduced admission prices from $17 to $10 and expanded its community access initiatives. The Mandel Community Days program offers free admission to Cleveland and East Cleveland residents on Sundays, and recently expanded to include Saturdays, as well as Brooklyn, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, and Warrensville Heights.

The Evolving Life WingAdditionally, the Museums for All program allows anyone with an EBT card or SNAP benefits to visit CMNH for just $1 any day.

The museum staff introduced new experiences as the transformation progressed—including the opening of the 14,600-square-foot Visitor Hall in October 2023, as well as programming throughout the process—like an immersive Pink Floyd experience in the Shafran Planetarium, 3D movies in Merch Auditorium, or two Virtual Reality (VR) Birdly units that are full-body, immersive flight-simulators that allow guests to soar among winged wildlife as either a pterosaur or a butterfly.

These are the types of programs and experiences that have helped CMNH make a $40 million impact each year through operations, visitors, education, and science activities.

Noting firsts and making strides
Every detail was considered when reimagining the museum. The layout of the building and grounds, designed by DLR Group, was inspired by the geological history of Northeast Ohio. Panzica Construction oversaw the construction.

Recently, the Museum earned the prestigious distinction of being the first U.S. museum to achieve LEEDv4 BD+C NC Platinum certification for new building construction and design—the highest honor in sustainable building design. This environmental achievement underscores the institution's commitment to sustainability.

"Personally, for me, I think it's a validation of all the hard work that the team put in and the passion," Sharma says.

The reimagined museum spaces focus on interconnectivity rather than traditional separate halls. "Instead of having a Dino hall or a gems hall, it's interconnectivity. We are showing evolution and how humans are impacted," Sharma explains.

While embracing change, the museum has maintained beloved attractions. “Balto is still there; Steggie is there, the Earthquake machine is still there, the Pendulum is there,” Sharma assures, referring to longtime favorite exhibits.

The transformation extends beyond the building itself. The museum now features an enhanced distance learning studio reaching students worldwide, and spaces to showcase its conservation work across 13,000 acres of preserved land in Northeast Ohio.

The Evolving Life Wing"We are not just a building," Sharma says. "Our job is to have science be easily available to people. We can make an impact in their lives and they understand science."

The transformation has attracted national attention, with visitors coming from across the country after seeing coverage on programs like the Today Show. The museum continues to evolve, with new programming and exhibits planned, including an International Wildlife Photography exhibit launching on Earth Day 2024.

“This is our gift to the community,” Sharma says. "We want them to come get curious, think, become citizen scientists, and be a voice for the planet.”