Museum expert Donald Luxton laid out the possibilities for the recently renamed Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre early in 2014 in a final report.
Now the museum project’s advisory committee is looking to the public to help identify next steps and priorities in a public session entitled “The Next Steps” on Wednesday, April 16 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the museum.
“The session will give everyone a chance to see the finalized Luxton report, break down possible next steps and fundraising needs, share fundraising best practices from other communities, let people know the level of commitment from major players, and take stock of community resources,” said Wayne Wilson, a museum consultant who assisted Luxton with the report, who will be on hand to emcee the event.
The session will feature a presentation by Wilson at 6 p.m. with opportunities to discuss next steps and generate ideas afterwards.
Free refreshments will be made available through Friends of the Museum.
“We have received great input through two open houses, a survey and other consultations. Now that we’ve got the most promising concepts that will renew and reinvigorate the Museum, we will focus our energies on determining doable next steps,” added Libby Martin, chair of the museum board.
Throughout the Fall of 2013, Vancouver-based museum consultant and architect Luxton and his team explored and identified options for the Rossland Museum that included a new atrium, a renewed entrance gallery, a cost-effective replacement to the closed adit, and several other significant improvements.
Luxton estimated that the museum overhaul, while costing $3 million in its entirety, could be broken down into smaller components that could be tackled as grant and other opportunities arise.
The Museum Gateway Project Committee includes representatives from the City of Rossland, the Rossland Museum and Archive Association, Tourism Rossland, Teck Metals Ltd. and other organizations.
Budget Numbers
• Museum building: $2,085,000 for 10,700 sq. ft. = $195 psf
• Shed building: $490,000 for 1,920 sq. ft. = $255 psf
• Artificial rock, allow $200,000
• Exhibit design and fabrication, allow $225,000
• Entry gallery $240,000 (includes $100,000 demo, disposal and hoarding costs)
• Mining experience $630,000 (includes $50,000 demo/disposal costs and part of cost of metal roof across entire back of building)
Artificial rocks $200,000, includes design of tunnel and mine entrance.
• Atrium $420,000 (Atrium and mining experience could be built concurrently)
• Industrial building shed $490,000
• Screen/sign/site work/exterior walls/windows $375,000
• Interior renovations $420,000 (includes $80,000 structural and $200,000 mechanical/electrical)
