Camp Cowabunga, Topeka Zoo, Kansas

The service that Studio Tectonic provides is exceptional. Their design for this project incorporates our zoo’s history into the thematics of the project. The approach and interpretation that Studio Tectonic created and layered through the guest journey through the exhibit keeps the exhibit engaging even if the animals don’t cooperate.

We are just now planning for our next project. We aren’t sure yet whether or not it will be a tiger experience or a children’s zoo. What we are sure of is that Studio Tectonic will be part of the team that creates it. When we worked with Studio Tectonic to build Camp Cowabunga, unknowingly we set the bar for ourselves. Now, that is the quality that our community expects and deserves. With Studio Tectonic, you just don’t hire a contractor. You enter a relationship. You gain an advisor. You find a team member.

Brendan Wiley, Chief Executive Officer

Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, New York

Throughout the process, this commitment from the Studio Tectonic team has proven their ability and desire to go above and beyond our expectations. Their work has enabled the voices of freedom seekers and activists to be recognized as heroes and leaders in facilitating freedom for themselves and others.

Studio Tectonic has led our project team through the design-build process, providing exceptional and meticulous project management. Their strategies have proven effective for completing work on-time, and they have ensured that every team member’s voice was heard throughout the design decision making process. The unique scope of our project was understood and they provided a process that is inclusive of our community. They found solutions to challenges that naturally arise in a project scope such as ours and approached the design of the Heritage Center creatively from start to finish. Their team is exceptionally detail oriented, and has been able to move our work forward with complete understanding of our needs in a tight timeline.

Throughout the design process, the Studio Tectonic team responded thoughtfully and directly to each and every concern and idea expressed by our project team. Studio Tectonic also worked very well and closely with the exhibit fabricator, ensuring that the project could meet budget while also maintaining high quality in installed exhibits, with considerations given to operating costs as well.

Ally Spongr, Director

Teton Geotourism Center, Idaho

Each step of the way, Studio Tectonic significantly exceeded expectations and made the entire process not only incredibly successful, but quite enjoyable. In our first project steps, we found them to be extremely adept at cultivating core concepts from groups of diverse individuals and growing those into powerful assemblies of exhibit themes. The resulting conceptual designs were coherent, creative, engaging and packed with the type of simple interactive features we had hoped for.

Throughout the design process, the Studio Tectonic team responded thoughtfully and directly to each and every concern and idea expressed by our project team. Studio Tectonic also worked very well and closely with the exhibit fabricator, ensuring that the project could meet budget while also maintaining high quality in installed exhibits, with considerations given to operating costs as well.

Doug Self, Community Development Director

Colorado State University, Colorado

During the previous years, a team of faculty from the Biology Department worked extensively with Studio Tectonic in implementing exhibits and branding for this teaching and research building.  In sum, we cannot be more pleased by both the outcome and the process.  We now work and live in a beautiful and inspiring space, reminiscent of a natural history museum, which is enjoyed by our students, by the campus community, and by the general public.  We set out to build a destination on campus, and Studio Tectonic was central in our achieving that goal.

From the outset, in initial meetings, Studio Tectonic provided alternative concepts that were quite well-developed.

Overall, Studio Tectonic delivered our exhibit on time and on budget.  The result is that the biology department at Colorado State University has a home with a compelling design – it’s just plain gorgeous, aesthetically integrating images, objects, lighting and color in museum quality displays. It inspires by laying out majors themes and concepts in the life sciences. And it is subtle. Every image and object is placed for a specific reason, which over a student’s time at the university should become apparent to them, as they learn and discover not just themes, but the connections between them. We are privileged to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Seth Frankel and Studio Tectonic. 

Dr. Michael Antolin, Department Chair

UNAVCO, A Plate Under Pressure,
Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon

From initial proposal submission to final installation, Studio Tectonic was well organized and timely. They worked with our organization to fine-tune our design goals and turn them into reality on time and on budget.

They stayed very conscientious about budget and timeline, while maintaining long-term quality of the exhibit. In addition to providing superior design and project management expertise, Studio Tectonic is also passionate about their work. They relished in helping us bring the hazard science and technology narrative to life through the exhibit elements. Working with Studio Tectonic was a very positive experience. I recommend Seth and Studio Tectonic and look forward to working with them again in the future.

Shelley Olds, Interim Director, Education and Outreach

USA Cycling, Colorado

Studio Tectonic worked efficiently under a very tight schedule to complete the work before USA Cycling’s grand opening and ribbon cutting. We are very pleased with the final product that they delivered. Thanks to Studio Tectonic, our Conference Center is not just a meeting space but an interactive museum full of Olympic cycling history.

Steve McCauley, Development Director

Grand Encampment Museum, Wyoming

We recommend Studio Tectonic for any interpretation, design, and/or planning project you are considering. Working with Studio Tectonic was truly an enjoyable experience. They worked diligently to fully understand the detail of the Museum’s business needs in order to provide a complete interpretive plan appropriate for our small town local museum. The overall plan also provided the Museum a broad view to assist with its future goals.

I honestly cannot imagine any other company doing a better job.

John Varner, President