Quinn Evans Architects (QEA) and the architecture/engineering (A/E) project team are collaborating with the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia (FCMV) to develop a planning approach for a proposed Crossing Gallery buildling. The purpose of this submission is to present the work completed to date and confirm FCMV approval of the approach developed. The Crossing Gallery building will provide a new entry, visitor amenities, and three new exhibit galleries including the Crossing Gallery exhibit.

In an extraordinary and impactful way, FCMV enriches and educates Virginians and regional visitors about the resilience, resourcefulness, adaptation, and perseverance their forebears demonstrated in the face of unfamiliar and challenging environments. With the support of costumed interpreters, FCMV supports the museum’s vision:

“We bring history to life!"

The “Old World" (European and African homesteads) and “New World" (American settlements) exhibits provide a rich context for the museum visitors to understand the interpretive messaging. However the story of the transatlantic crossing is a missing piece to the overall message, and the establishment of a Crossing Gallery exhibit will help to clarify the complete story on the development of the American frontier culture.

The A/E team kicked off the pre-design process on May 1, 2018. The result of this process is a clear path forward that captures the organization’s ethos and purpose in a holistic and tangible form in the Crossing Gallery project, which will achieve the following:

• Guide all aspects of the plan in support of FCMV’smission and aspirations

• Understand present and projected audiences, visitorexperiences, and themes

• Develop the site, building, and interpretive concepts in harmony with each other and accordance with the mission and audience

• Address long-term sustainable operations, value, and implementation considerations that can make or break future viability