Jackie Robinson Museum, New York, NY

Legacy of impact

The Jackie Robinson Foundation collaborated with Gensler on a new museum design to celebrate the extraordinary life of one of the most important Americans of the 20th century.

A group of people in a room.
A person standing in front of a display of a bed.
A person looking at a display of art.
People standing in a room with posters.
A few people looking at a display.
A few people walking in a hallway.
A person standing in a room with people in it.
A collage of a man and a woman.

Challenge

With a museum centered on a well-known historical figure, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, guided by the vision of Rachel Robinson, wanted to tell Jackie’s story in a contemporary way that would resonate with visitors of all ages and walks of life.

Purpose

The museum chronicles the deeply personal story arc of Robinson’s prolific life, highlighting the many layers of his achievements in an engaging context, and allowing visitors to relate to the racism and prejudice Robinson encountered beyond the baseball field.

Experience

Designed to create a memorable experience for everyone, the exhibits integrate physical artifacts, historic media, didactic information, and interactive digital exhibits. Highlights include an interactive exhibit of Ebbets Field celebrating ‘Game Day’ in 1940’s Brooklyn, ‘42 Voices’ featuring diverse figures impacted by Jackie, and an immersive media space documenting Jackie’s personal journey.

Technical Specifications
4,500
artifacts and memorabilia
40,000
photographs and illustration
20,000
square feet of exhibition space
450
hours of video footage
A group of people in a room.
A couple of women looking at a poster on a wall.
People in a store.
A group of people looking at a poster.
A group of people in a large room with a sign.
A group of people in a store.
A group of people in a control room.
A group of people wearing virtual reality headsets.
Text.
A person sitting on a chair in a room with a shelf and a mirror.

Services Provided

  • Architectural Services
  • Brand Design
  • Content Design & Production
  • Digital Experience Design
  • Exhibit Design
  • Interior Design
  • Signage & Wayfinding

Praise

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People walking through a building.
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A person walking in a hallway.
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A large building with a statue in front of it.
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A man standing in front of a computer screen.
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A person standing in front of a large computer.
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A person and a child in a hallway.
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A man and woman standing in a room with a large glass ceiling.
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Additional Reading

Gensler Blog
2022
The Future of the Museum Experience: Diverse, Inclusive, and Digital
Gensler Blog
2022
Rethinking What Museums Can Do for Communities — and How We Design Them
Gensler Dialogue
2020
Reimagining the Museum Experience for a Digital Era
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