MOTAT Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre
By Autex Acoustics
A creative collaboration for a beloved institution
The project
Opened in May 2024, MOTAT’s Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre is an innovative space designed to encourage young Kiwis to engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a new way. Headed by MOTAT Project Manager Tanya Wilkinson and Scott Parker Creative, the project was a collaborative effort and a labour of love, with the project team’s passion for delivering an enchanting learning space a key contributor to its success.
Designing an innovative and interactive learning environment
Scott Parker of Scott Parker Creative was engaged to support the MOTAT team with the design, setting out to create an experience that would be unique to Aotearoa but also push the boundaries of what a science and technology centre could be.
“We wanted visitors to be comfortable but also create spaces that keep them guessing as they move through,” Scott explains. “The space is broken up into three main large areas with additional classrooms and breakout zones. Te Tumu is dedicated to under-fives and caregivers, Te Puku is the main immersive exhibition, and then there’s the lower level that caters to workshops, school groups, and events. Each space has quite a different look, feel, and interaction style for the visitors. Interior architecture and colour play a huge part in the exhibition, including the projection and custom light elements.”
Having worked with Autex Acoustics® on previous projects, Scott knew they would be able to deliver on acoustics that met the space’s technical and aesthetic requirements.
“We wanted a product that was robust and elegantly fabricated with high-performance acoustics but also complimentary to our exhibition design colour palette,” Scott says. “At times we wanted the acoustic treatment to be the star of the show, especially in the exterior window display and the little kids' space, but in the main space it was more about letting it blend into the architecture, allowing projection or lighting to be the hero.”
Breaking away from primary colours and palettes typically found in early childhood environments, Scott and MOTAT’s Design Manager, Jess Gommers, took inspiration from nature — looking to areas around MOTAT and Western Springs in particular.
“We knew from the start that we wanted to be playful with colour on all fronts, whether it was on the floor, paint treatments, or on the ceiling where Autex Acoustics was used to both disguise existing architecture but also link to native flora and our storytelling narrative.”
Customised solutions
With support from Autex Acoustics’ Anton Agnew, the design team chose to customise Cube™ to create a whimsical design feature for Te Tumu, the under-fives play area. The installation included Cube cut into leaves, branches, blossoms and birds to represent the Pohutukawa tree, which was then suspended above pillars to create the illusion of a forest canopy. 50 mm Quietspace® Panel was specified for the ceiling of Te Puku, a semi-enclosed theatre, providing acoustic absorption that would enhance the theatre experience and mitigate sound transfer into other areas of the exhibit.
“The main challenge was working with a standard sheet size, trying to get the biggest impact from the sheet with minimal waste. We used a lot of layering and slotting of material, so we really appreciated the input from the Autex Acoustics design team who fed in technically and let us know how far we could go and how intricate our designs could be,” Scott says.
A collaborative approach
For a project of this size, with many moving parts and numerous stakeholders, Scott says it was important for the overarching idea and design intention to be confirmed early on, so any new collaborators could gauge the end outcome easily.
“We had a huge amount of support and enthusiasm for design from the MOTAT management team the whole way through, and that really helped when working with external fabricators, suppliers, content creators and other staff on the project. At the end of the day, it is such an amazing, fun space to work in, and that rubbed off on everyone we collaborated with.”
Experience the magic of Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre for yourself at MOTAT.
Architect/ Designer: Scott Parker Creative
Project Manager: Tanya Wilkinson
Installer: Brothers Interior
Account Manager: Anton Agnew
Photographer: Mark Scowen
Products used in
MOTAT Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre
Professionals used in
MOTAT Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre
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Autex Acoustics
About the
Professional
Beautiful carbon neutral acoustics for spaces where people live, work and learn.
For over 30 years our team has been designing, developing and manufacturing innovative acoustics for the built environment—revolutionising the way acoustic treatments are applied within interior spaces. As passionate creators, we’re constantly tinkering with new concepts and expanding our horizons.
Our acoustic solutions are designed to reduce and control reverberation and echo in building interiors, creating comfortable, acoustically balanced environments. The Autex Acoustics range offers a variety of treatments including wallcoverings, panels, baffles, and screens—easily customised to fit the requirements of your space.
Sustainability has been at the core of how we operate for decades. Being a manufacturer we hold a significant role in reducing the impact of not just our products but our customer’s too. As a result we have worked through a rigorous process to ensure our entire range and global operations are carbon neutral. We see this as our responsibility as we look to protect the resources our environment provides us with for generations to come.