Related: At the New California Academy of Sciences, Cinnabar's Climate Change Exhibits Speak Up About State's Environment and Future / Cinnabar Installation Diary: The California Academy of Sciences
Cinnabar, Inc., a company of designers, artisan builders and producers creating unique experiences for the museum, entertainment and cultural industries, was recognized with a SEGD Honor Award (Society for Environmental Graphic Design) for exhibit design at the celebrated new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
The award was presented June 3 in Washington, DC. The annual SEGD Design Awards recognize exceptional environmental graphic design, illustrating the multidisciplinary nature of visual communications in the built environment.
Cinnabar was acknowledged in tandem with environmental design firm Volume Inc. Working closely with Volume, with the Academy and 
with architect Renzo Piano, Cinnabar implemented a highly collaborative and time-efficient project development method known as “integrated creative management” to produce 35,000 square feet of exhibits for the Kimball Museum of Natural History, on the main floor of the new Academy - a $488 million, 400,000 sq. ft. facility created to replace the former earthquake-damaged structure.
“It was an honor and delight to help realize this visionary project,” says Cinnabar CEO Jonathan Katz, who executive produced the exhibits. “With this new museum, the 100-year old Academy has both preserved and expanded its identity and position within the community. The new Academy shows how a scientific research institution can share information and collections in a responsible manner that engages the public in meaningful dialog on such vital topics as climate change and preservation of earth’s invalauable ecosystems. The building, exhibits and systems are as exemplary for their low carbon footprint as for delivering a powerful guest experience.”
Since the new Academy opened to great public and critical acclaim, Katz, a passionate conservationist, has been a sought-after speaker at museum events and academic gatherings, talking about sustainable building, risk taking for educational institutions, and integrated creative management. Cinnabar has continued on to other museum projects such as the Age of Mammals exhibit hall for the Los Angeles Natural History Museum.
SEGD Design Award jury comments
“A delightful collage of visuals, artifacts, and typography. Not too much, not too little. Using the specimen box as inspiration for the signage is brilliant.”
“The design's juxtaposition of the organic with structural geometric forms is beautifully executed, and the integration of digital media is seamless. It's the perfect expression of science and nature.”
About Cinnabar
Founded in 1982, Cinnabar California, Inc. is one of the entertainment industry’s leading production and fabrication companies, providing specialty fabrication for television, film and themed venues. In recent years, Cinnabar has been at the forefront of developments that have seen the integration of innovative new approaches to the process and production of museum exhibitions. Operating from a 30,000 square foot production facility, Cinnabar is able to provide its clients a complete range of in-house design-build, project management, and manufacturing services. Cinnabar is a licensed General Contractor in California and Nevada, and has held GC registration in other states on an as-needed basis.
About the Society for Environmental Graphic Design
SEGD is the more than 1,600 members who work in the planning, design, fabrication, and implementation of communications in the built environment. SEGD is guided by a Board of Directors, which creates policies and programs to grow, enrich, and provide educational resources to the community. A strong network of Chapter Chairs represents SEGD at the local level, providing a vital liaison role between local members and the Board of Directors. A diverse professional staff implements Board initiatives, provides member support, and works to provide new services and resources for the SEGD community.
About the California Academy of Sciences
Since 1853, the California Academy of Sciences has been dedicated to exploring, explaining and protecting the natural world.
Pictures from Top:
Islands of Evolution at new Calif Academy of Sciences
Jonathan Katz
A crew member works on a lemur skeleton specimen for "Islands of Evolution" exhibit produced by Cinnabar for the California Academy of Sciences