What’s better than a dinosaur fossil? TWO dinosaur fossils entwined and then placed in a real working paleontology lab for all to see! This immersive exhibit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh tears down the walls between researcher and visitors while also creating unique structural challenges.

The first-floor laboratory required the original museum front facade to be extended approximately 10 feet. Additional analysis of the existing floor structure was required to ensure a safe transport route for the many heavy fossil specimens. That analysis extended into the new lab space to ensure current and future specimens could be safely housed. The newly reinforced floor now boasts a 400spf live load – ensuring the fossils, staff, and visitors can move freely about the space. Of course moving a fossil once inside the lab is no easy task, so LM designed an overhead crane to enable scientists to relocate fossil blocks as needed. Dino-mite!