Presentation

AZMNH
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Mesa City Council Presentation
May 7, 2026

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Agenda
Executive Summary 
Introduction and Project 
Overview 
1
AZMNH COUNCIL PRESENTATION
Return on 
Investment & Impact 
Why invest in a world-class natural 
history museum in Mesa, Arizona?
2
Community Engagement 
How do we understand community 
needs and motivations?
3
Architecture & 
Experience Design 
What is possible for the Arizona 
Museum of Natural History?  
4
Funding Models
How will the Arizona Museum of 
Natural History realize its vision?  
5

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
AZMNH COUNCIL PRESENTATION
1
Executive Summary
Introduction and 
Project Overview

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Project Vision

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Arizona’s history is world history. 
Right here in Mesa, we stand in a place of continuous human presence, 
and that matters. In a 21st century economy, cities compete for talent, 
investment, and corporate headquarters. The AZMNH redevelopment 
turns that reality into an advantage, creating a global destination that 
delivers exponential return on the city’s investment. 
This is not a typical museum. 
It is the first model of its kind anywhere, a self-sustaining cultural and 
economic engine. It will serve our residents, inspire future generations, 
and drive visitation, private investment, and job creation. It strengthens 
downtown, builds civic identity, and puts Mesa firmly on the map as a city 
that leads, competes, and wins. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Project Partners

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
G&A Strategy + Design
Experience Design
Feasibility and Operational Planning
Community Engagement
Jones Studio
Architectural Programming
Architectural Concept
Benefactor
Philanthropic Planning
Funding Models
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Mesa Arts and Culture
City of Mesa

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Questions We Will 
Address Today

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Questions We Will Address Today
Why invest in a world-class 
natural history museum in 
Mesa, Arizona?
Return on Investment and Impact
How do we understand the potential 
social and economic returns of a 
project like this one? 
Market Research & Community Engagement
What is possible for the Arizona 
Museum of Natural History?
Visualizing the Future
How will the Arizona Museum of 
Natural History realize its vision?
Funding Models

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Work Completed 
To-Date

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Strategic Plan and 
Master Plan completed
Community engagement and 
audience research completed
Market analysis and demand 
projections completed
Visitor experience and 
interpretive framework defined
Clear long-term vision 
and direction established
Strong participation 
and validated demand
Distinct, world-class 
concept established
Phased approach aligned 
to funding strategy
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Work Done to Date

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / OVERALL PROJECT WORKFLOW
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
KICKOFF
ARCHITECTURAL 
PROGRAMMING
BUSINESS PLANNING & 
OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY STUDY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & 
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
ALIGNMENT BRIEF
50% DESIGN
Preliminary Program & 
Concept Design Workshop
75% DESIGN
Progress Program & 
Concept Design Workshop
VISITOR EXPERIENCE PLANNING
INTERPRETIVE PLANNING
100% COUNCIL PRESENTATION
Final Program & 
Concept Design Presentation
DATE
10/21–10/22
11/18
12/19
2/12
5/7 
2025
2026
We Are Here!

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
AZMNH COUNCIL PRESENTATION
2
Return on Investment 
and Impact
Why invest in a 
world-class natural 
history museum in 
Mesa, Arizona?

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Return on 
Investment
Return on 
Impact
Build for the greatest impact on our mission, impact, and 
audience while remaining financially sustainable 
ROI2 
Maximizing ROI2 
G&A Strategy’s approach for business 
planning is to maximize the museum’s 
return on impact and return on 
investment.
●
Return on investment has two dimensions: 
the financial returns that sustain the museum 
and the broader economic and community 
impact that justify the investment.
●
As a city-owned museum, Mesa can use AZMNH 
as an asset to deliver a return on investment for 
residents and taxpayers beyond the museum’s 
walls.

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Annual Visitors
175k
Largest city municipal 
Natural History Museum in 
the country
Capture Rate
0.73%
Ranking  25th of 30 peers in 
attendance capture relative to 
Total Potential Audience
Heavily dependent on 
gate revenue and public 
support
Earned Revenue
$1.8m
Tourists make up just over 10% 
of AZMNH’s audience mix — far 
below the average of a typical 
Natural History Museum
Tourist Mix
~10% 
Key Facts & Figures
AZMNH Today has the brand 
potential, market, and audience 
to be a top Valley attraction.
●
Sits in one of the fastest-growing markets in the U.S. for 
population, tourism, and STEM
●
The only city-owned natural history museum in the country 
carrying the brand potential of an entire state
●
A 63K SF aging facility has capped the museum's ability to 
grow visitation, revenue, and impact
●
Minimal contributed revenues, leaving one of the
 largest income sources in the museum industry untapped
AZMNH’s opportunity is clear, but the 
current building and revenue model prevent 
the museum from meeting it

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FOR ALL OF MESA
TOURISM MULTIPLIER
ECONOMIC ACTIVATOR
MARKET COMPETITIVE
CATALYST FOR INVESTMENT
AZMNH
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Maximizing Return on Investment
Maximizing ROI for all of Mesa requires:
●
A revenue strategy fit for the opportunity
●
Driving new visitation from tourists and Valley 
residents to Mesa
●
Turn museum visitors into Main Street customers 
for Mesa's restaurants, shops, and nightlife
●
Catalyze private investment in downtown Mesa
●
Deliver a community asset that serves Mesa 
residents and meets their needs
Maximizing Mesa’s Return on Investment means designing 
a project that delivers beyond its own walls.

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
3,450,000
New AZMNH 
Building Program
Current AZMNH 
Building Program
118,000 Sq Ft
77% Inc
66,640 Sq Ft
39,300 Sq Ft
146% Inc
39,300 Sq Ft
251% Inc
39,376 Sq Ft
16,039 Sq Ft
11,225 Sq Ft
The Future Museum
●
AZMNH already has the necessary exhibit space, but it 
lacks the amenity spaces that are critical for generating 
more earned revenue
●
The new building plan also adds the program and 
classroom spaces that are needed to grow programs, 
student visitation, and serve more of the Mesa 
community’s needs.
39,300 Sq Ft
0% Inc
Last year we showed AZMNH needs more amenity and 
support space to maximize the ROI of the Museum
Exhibit Spaces
Front of House / Amenities
Back of House
Legend

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
AZMNH can meet this opportunity 
by delivering more to Mesa residents 
and Valley tourists.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
AZMNH’s Mixed-Use Development
●
118K SF museum right-sized for the market and 
competitive with the region's top attractions
●
Boutique hotel adds room nights that strengthen all 
of Mesa's experiential assets
●
Dining and retail amenities designed to compliment 
the rest of the market’s offering
Museum
Boutique Hotel
Retail & F&B Tenants
Mixed-Use Components
Outdoor Space
* Commercial Footprint includes  170k sq ft of indoor space plus 
10k sqft of commercial outdoor public space 
118k  Sq Ft
Total Footprint  288k Sq Ft*
The Future AZMNH
70k Sq Ft
100k Sq Ft
10k Sq Ft
Commercial 
Development
Museum
Development

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
     
Peer Median
Average Peer Resident Pop: 4.4M
Small Market 
High Capture
Small Market 
Low Capture
Big Market
High Capture
Big Market
Low Capture
AZMNH TODAY 
175,000 Visitors
60 Min. Resident Population
Annual Attendance
High Peer Range: 515,000 Visitors
75th Percentile: 635,000 Visitors
AZMNH TOMORROW
Projected Attendance:  285,000 Visitors
Designing for the Valley's future audience positions AZMNH to achieve future attendance 
levels competitive with national peers and with potential for even greater visitation. 
AZMNH TODAY (2025)
Peer Museums
AZMNH TOMORROW
AZMNH Peer Range
LEGEND
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Annual Reports; Form 990s; Various Tourism Reports

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
285,000+
Annual Museum Visitors
Total campus visitation is substantially 
higher with hotel, event, dining, and 
conference guests.
1.5M+
Annual On-Site Visitors
Total on-site visitation across museum, 
hotel, retail, dining, and public events.
3x to 4x
Increase in Economic Impact 
Mesa's arts and culture sector generates $35.3M 
today. AZMNH adds nearly $14M in net new 
annual impact.
The future AZMNH will return new revenue, new visitors, and new private 
investment to downtown Mesa, while delivering greater impact than ever before.
Return on Impact
●
Quality-of-life improvements that come with having a world-class 
cultural amenity 
●
Positions downtown Mesa as active science destination, visible 
to every visitor
●
World-class amenities factor into where companies relocate and 
where talent chooses to live
●
Direct STEM pipeline to Mesa's growing tech and aerospace 
employers
Financial & Operating Return
●
$9.5M in projected Y1 revenue from a diversified earned revenue 
model
●
Increased cost recovery for the City of Mesa
●
Ability to host over 300 private events/year with rentable space 
ranging in capacity from  50 –1,100 guests
●
Experiential retail and F&B creates $400K in revenue annually
Sources: AE6 Americans for the Arts

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
WHAT THEY DO
ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION (Valley  vs U.S. NORM)
Entertainment
64%
Outdoor / Rec.
50%
Cultural
34%
Sporting
28%
Orange Bar = Phoenix Valley Participation 
Green Line = U.S. Norm 
TOP ACTIVITIES (Valley  vs U.S. NORM)
Shopping
Sightseeing
Celebrations / events
Bars / nightclubs
Swimming / beach
Landmarks / historic
Casino / gaming
Museums 
Hiking / backpacking
11%
$170
/day
Lodging
$59
34.5%
Food & Beverage
$45
26.6%
Retail & Shopping
$27
15.8%
Transportation
$24
14.2%
Entertainment
$15
8.9%
27%
19%
17%
16%
14%
14%
The Valley tourist is active, engaged, and spending money on a variety of offerings. 
The future AZMNH is positioned to drive a greater share of this spending to Mesa.
11%
12%
HOW THEY SPEND
3.4 Nights Avg. = 
~$578 per trip
Sources: Arizona Office of Tourism; Longwoods International Travel USA; VisitPhoenix; VisitMesa

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Mesa
Scottsdale
Gilbert
Phoenix
Glendale
Palo District
Heritage Park
Nox Music Venue
Cactus Surf Park
Legacy Park
McCain Library
VAI Resort
Mattel Adventure Park
10 Minute Radius
20 Minute Radius
Mesa’s downtown is missing the anchor attraction that 
turns pass-through visitors into overnight guests.
●
The future AZMNH will drive new tourism to Mesa while 
keeping existing tourist dollars in Mesa longer.
●
Cultural tourists spend 38% more per day and stay 22% 
longer than average travelers. 
30 Minute Radius
Legend
Over $8B in experience investment is reshaping the Valley, proving 
the demand and ROI of the experiential economy.
Planned Projects
Sources: Phoenix Business Journal

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
The Valley’s STEM Economy
$300B+ 
Announced STEM capital investment since 2020 across 
semiconductor, data center, aerospace, biotech, and advanced 
manufacturing
#1
U.S. metro for semiconductor expansion investment; 35 
manufacturers and 181 suppliers in the Phoenix ecosystem 
(CBRE 2025)
$34B
Projected new STEM-sector jobs across committed projects, at 
an average wage of $95,928 (ACA FY2025)
212k+
New investment committed in FY2025 alone, setting a new 
annual record for the state (Arizona Commerce Authority)
$24.2B 
Mesa's active economic development pipeline alone: 202 
projects, 39,319 jobs across semiconductor, aerospace, 
biotech, and manufacturing
AZMNH sits at the center of the 
fastest-growing STEM economy in 
the country and has barely 
scratched the surface of its 
strategic partnership potential.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Leveraging the Valley’s STEM Economy delivers on both 
Return on Investment and Return on Impact.
Sources: Phoenix Business Journal

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
HMNS anchors a museum district where  
cultural investment drives private investment 
into residential, commercial, and hospitality 
developments across the district. 
Project Facts
●
$40M Project Budget | $1,335 per Sq Ft
●
30,000 Sq Ft Exhibit Expansion 
●
Funding from virtually every Houston-based energy company, 35+ in total 
including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and ConocoPhillips
Partnership Outcomes
●
Careers in Energy — sponsored by Simmons & Company; interactive career 
aptitude quiz showing salary, growth, and job availability
●
Corporate programs & industry events — energy companies fund workforce 
development programs, sustainability workshops, and host networking 
events in the hall
●
STEM grants — Kinder Morgan: $100K/yr x 5 years for underserved youth 
education
Case Study — Weiss Energy Hall

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Average Annual Contributed Income  
Valley Metro Museums and Cultural Attractions
The Phoenix Zoo
Desert Botanical Garden
 Valley Average = $7.8M
$11.8M
$11.5M
$9.8M
$8.7M
$7.0M
$3.8M
$2.1M
AZ Science Center
Phoenix Art Museum
Heard Museum
Children’s Museum
FLW Foundation
AZMNH
$570k
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
AZMNH operates with virtually no philanthropic support, leaving one 
of the largest revenue sources in the museum industry untapped.
Without contributed income, 
AZMNH is overly reliant on 
admissions and city funding, 
suppressing both its financial 
performance and its impact 
potential.
Sources: City of Mesa; Tax Form 990 from FY22, FY23, and FY24

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
A world-class museum is the anchor 
that attracts private investment in 
hotel, retail, and restaurants.
●
Public-private partnerships 
allow the city to promote 
development and enable the 
private sector to flourish 
●
The MAC is a proven case study: 
a public anchor that unlocked 20 
years of surrounding private 
investment
Competitors are actively investing in 
this space — Mesa's advantage is now, 
not later.
●
Cultural and attraction 
investment in the Valley is as 
competitive as it has ever been
●
The Valley cultural tourist is 
active and outgoing, but 
requires delivering a visitor 
experience 
●
Mesa becomes the only Valley 
city synonymous with the 
Sonoran Desert ecosystem
Co-located hotel and conference 
infrastructure extend visits and create 
new overnight stays.
●
Morning: museum → afternoon: 
Main Street dining and shopping 
→ evening: nightlife & hotel stay
●
New hotel makes Mesa a stronger, 
greater sell to larger potential 
conventions and AZMNH provides 
the experience space for off-site 
events and leisure time
●
Allows for multi-day citizen 
science programs and 
conferences the current building 
can't host
Fills gaps in Mesa's market and 
pushes new visitation outward to 
Main Street, dining, and nightlife.
●
500-person wedding releases 
guests onto Main Street 
nightlife at 10pm
●
Private event spaces serving 
50–1,100 — capacities that 
don't currently exist 
downtown 
●
Museum F&B and retail fill 
market gaps, not duplicating 
existing Mesa businesses
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
ECONOMIC ACTIVATOR
New Demand Pushed 
Outward
Drive new private 
investment for Mesa
Half-Day to Full-Day
to Overnight
Mesa’s Moment
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
CATALYST FOR INVESTMENT
How Investing in AZMNH elevates all of Mesa 
TOURISM MULTIPLIER

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
AZMNH COUNCIL PRESENTATION
3
Community 
Engagement
How do we understand 
community needs and 
motivations?

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community Engagement
Building on the Master Plan, this 
phase of work engaged 650 people 
through two surveys and one 
in-person event.
Outcomes of these engagements are supported by extensive 
market research and data-informed projections. 
Outcomes reveal:
●
AZMNH is highly valued by a strong, loyal audience.
●
Visitors want more adult-focused programming while 
maintaining appeal for children.
●
There is a strong desire to preserve the museum’s unique, 
beloved features: dinosaurs!
●
At the same time, audiences support facility upgrades and 
new amenities.
●
Cost of living concerns highlight the need to shape the 
project to maximize positive economic impact.

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Two Surveys
518 responses indicate a strong and loyal 
audience base for AZMNH, reinforcing 
its reputation as a beloved institution. 
Visitors want to retain its distinctive 
character while recognizing the need 
for change and renewal.
Respondents are avid and enthusiastic museum-goers in a region 
where attendance at cultural institutions is lower than average.
Visitors feel that once they've seen everything the museum has to 
offer, there is little reason to return, supporting the need for 
additional space for temporary exhibitions and the development of 
permanent exhibits designed to reward repeat visitation.
Respondents prioritized the need to appeal to children while also 
expressing desire for programming and experiences targeted to 
adults, something they feel is currently lacking.
Visitors expressed strong interest in preserving AZMNH’s unique 
character (and especially its dinosaurs) and were concerned that 
beloved features would be eliminated. 
At the same time, respondents expressed desire for new amenities 
and upgraded facilities, recognizing the need for renewal. 
Respondents want stronger representation of Arizona's regional 
character and expressed a desire for deeper collaboration with and 
representation of local Indigenous groups.
The survey highlighted the need for targeted outreach to key 
audiences in future phases, specifically children, educators, 
out-of-state visitors, and Hispanic residents.

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
“Activate other 
senses”
“BIG complete 
skeletons”
“I want to be 
in there!”
“Play is for 
adults too”
“Interactive, move 
your body”
“Patterns and 
water texture 
are cool”
In-Person Event
Visitors had clear preferences 
when it came to selecting among 
the images of other museums and 
exhibitions. The most popular 
images involved immersive, 
multisensory, and playful spaces 
involving movement and tactility 
(and, of course, dinosaurs).

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Focus on Future Audiences 
While AZMNH has a strong local following today, 
we're building for tomorrow. The region is growing 
rapidly, museums are evolving, and AZMNH must 
position itself as a forward-thinking institution 
ready to serve the future generations of the region.
Preserve Uniquely Mesa
The museum will draw visitors from around the 
world while maintaining a distinctly local flavor— 
capturing Mesa's character and quirks while 
addressing global questions through a uniquely 
Arizona perspective.

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
AZMNH COUNCIL PRESENTATION
4
Architecture & 
Experience Design
What is possible for 
the Arizona Museum 
of Natural History?

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
This is not a typical museum. 
This project is being shaped by a unique 
partnership between architecture, storytelling 
and exhibition design, generating a one-of-a-kind 
holistic museum experience.  
G&A Strategy + Design
Experience Design
Feasibility and Operational Planning
Community Engagement
Jones Studio 
Architectural Programming
Architectural Concept

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Fig 01. Journeys Through 
Time And Space
Fig 02. The Journeys we Made 
to Get Here
Fig 03.The Thrill 
of Discovery
Fig 04. Expanding our 
Range of Knowledge
Fig 05. Local Stories, Global 
Understanding
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture + Experience Design + Storytelling
Journeys of Discovery
Past, Present and Future

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture + Experience Design + Storytelling
Inspired by Arizona
Past, Present and Future

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Storytelling
Braided Rivers
Journeys of Discovery 
Along Pathways of Interconnected Themes

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Braided Rivers: Intersecting Themes
The storytelling of the new AZMNH is built 
around four cross-cutting themes that transcend 
traditional disciplinary boundaries. Rather than 
organizing the museum by subject alone, this 
approach makes each topic more accessible and 
approachable, while emphasizing the deep 
connections between them, reflecting the 
fundamental truth that the earth, life, and 
human culture are inextricably intertwined.
Main themes
●
Cosmos: Our place in the universe, and how forces beyond our 
planet have shaped life on Earth
●
Earth: How our planet has transformed over billions of years, 
forging the conditions that made life possible
●
Life: The evolution, behavior, and remarkable adaptability of living 
things across the history of Earth
●
People: The evolution, migration, and diversity of cultures and 
beliefs that define our human story

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture inspired by 
geology and time
Place

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture inspired by 
learning from the wisdom of those who lived here before us
Place

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture inspired by 
stewards of our most precious resource
Place

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture inspired by 
natural building materials and landscape
Place

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture inspired by 
Indoor - outdoor spaces and vertical ascension through time
Place

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Architecture inspired by 
Place
natural respite from the sun - and uniquely mesa

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
At AZMNH, your Journey 
of  Discovery starts HERE …
… at this museum, here in Mesa, within the unique 
ecosystem of the Salt and Gila River watersheds, 
a particular desert river valley which is home to 
a diverse array of life and a long history of human 
habitation.
… in this historical moment of rapid change, shaped 
by the deep geological and ecological history of this 
place, a long and ongoing history of human culture 
and interaction with this environment, and by the 
choices we continue to make every day for our 
shared future.
Your Journey of Discovery 
starts NOW …
Photo credit: Alan Stark

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
GROUND LEVEL PLAN
PEPPER
FIRST 
MACDONALD
BACK OF 
HOUSE
CANYON
EDUCATION
RESTAURANT
EVENT
LOBBY
CAFE
RETAIL
HOTEL

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Desert Landscape
- Retention Gardens
- Shaded Gathering Spaces
BACK OF 
HOUSE
CANYON
EDUCATION
RESTAURANT
EVENT
LOBBY
CAFE
RETAIL
HOTEL

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Desert Landscape
- Retention Gardens
- Shaded Gathering Spaces
Canyon & Public Realm
- Shaded Outdoor Space
- Open to the Public
CANYON

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Embrace & Wander
- Optimizing Daylight
- Thermal Performance
- Journey of Discovery
Desert Landscape
- Retention Gardens
- Shaded Gathering Spaces
Canyon & Public Realm
- Shaded Outdoor Space
- Open to the Public
EMBRACE & WANDER
CANYON

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Views
A
F
C
D
B
Embrace & Wander
- Optimizing Daylight
- Thermal Performance
- Journey of Discovery
Desert Landscape
- Retention Gardens
- Shaded Gathering Spaces
Canyon & Public Realm
- Shaded Outdoor Space
- Open to the Public
E
CANYON

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
A: STREET VIEW AT MACDONALD AND PEPPER

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
B: VIEW FROM FIRST - TOWARD CANYON

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
C: CANYON VIEW - LOOKING SOUTH

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
C: CANYON VIEW - LOOKING SOUTH

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
D: INTERIOR VIEW - GROUND FLOOR LOBBY

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
SW BUILDING AXON

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
SW BUILDING AXON
MUSEUM
COMMONS
HOTEL

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
SW BUILDING AXON
Museum Levels
GROUND LEVEL
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 3
MUSEUM
COMMONS
HOTEL

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
SW BUILDING AXON
DOUBLE HEIGHT SPACES - THE STORY OF 4.5 BILLION YEARS OF TIME
GROUND LEVEL
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 3
MUSEUM
COMMONS
HOTEL

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Thematic Floors
Each floor captures the intersections of Geology, 
Paleontology, and Anthropology according to a cross-section 
of time and place. 
The overall experience of each floor follows the natural flow of 
intersecting stories, interweaving and illuminating how 
landscape shapes life, how ecology influences culture, and how 
all are bound together across time.
Level 1
Origins: 
Earth Comes Alive
Level 2
Mesozoic: 
Reign of the Reptiles
Level 3a
Cenozoic: 
Dawn of the 
Modern World
Level 3b
Living Memory:
Our Recent Past
Roof
Observatory

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
E: AERIAL VIEW - LOOKING EAST

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
ARCHITECTURE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
F: FIFTH FLOOR TERRACE - LOOKING WEST

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
AZMNH COUNCIL PRESENTATION
5
Funding Models
How will the Arizona 
Museum of Natural 
History realize its 
vision?

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
AZMNH
Museum
Budget
$100M
Public Funding
(Mesa GO Bond)
$100M 
Philanthropic 
Funding 
(Private Giving)
Full 
Project
Budget
$100M
Public Funding
(Mesa GO Bond)
$100M 
Philanthropic 
Funding 
(Private Giving)
$100M
Private
Investment
(Commercial Investment)
$200M
$300M
$100M
Private
Investment
(Commercial Investment)
Commercial 
Mixed-use
Budget
$100M
Museum Capital Stack
50% Public Funding
50% Private Funding
Project Sources & Uses of Capital
Funding Sourcs: 33% Public Funding | 33% Philanthropic Funding | 33% Private Investment
Project Funding Strategy
Mesa’s investment unlocks the the 
philanthropic and private investment 
needed to maximize the project ROI’s
●
Every $1 Mesa invests is designed to generate $2 more 
dollars in total project investment
●
PPP structure gives Mesa flexibility to shape the deal that 
works for them 
Public Funding
Philanthropic Funding
Private Investment
Project Funding Sources
FUNDING MODELS

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FUNDING MODELS
Assessing Philanthropic Potential
The 
Philanthropic 
Landscape
1
Charitable 
Giving in the 
Region and State
2
National and 
Global Funding 
Possibilities
3
Capital and 
Operating 
Support
4

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FUNDING MODELS
The Philanthropic Landscape
Source: Giving USA 2025
Arts, Culture,
& Humanities
Environment / Animals
Education
Health
Religion

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FUNDING MODELS
Charitable Giving in the Arizona and the Metro Area 
Arizona (Est.)
 $5-$7 Billion
Annual 
Charitable Giving
Metro Area (Est.)
 $3.6-$6 Billion
~72% of State Total
HNW Households
 120,000
Drive Individual 
Giving
AZ Foundation Assets
 $7.2 Billion
990 Foundations
$4,500
$4,000
$3,500
$3,000
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0
Giving by Source: AZ & Metro ($Millions)
$3,960
$2,851
INDIVIDUALS
$1,140
$821
FOUNDATIONS
$420
$302
CORPORATIONS
$480
$346
BEQUESTS
State
Metro

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FUNDING MODELS
Attracting National (and Global) Funders
US foundation giving to aligned causes
40–45%
STEM, informal learning, 
environment, culture
Accessible to museums annually
 $544M-$1.3 Billion
From foundations and corporations
Capital + transformation projects unlock big gifts.
Most $5M+ institutional gifts fund:
Major new buildings or galleries
Digitization or collections initiatives
National education programs
Global research partnerships
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Perot Museum (TX)
Field Museum (Chicago)
Milwaukee Public Museum 
(rebranding to Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin)
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FUNDING MODELS
How museums raise money
For every
$1
Invested in Funding
Returned Annual Fundraising
$3–$6
At Maturity
Returned in Capital Campaigns
$5–$10
Investment Precedes Returns
People
Front-line staff to 
engage donors
Operations staff to 
manage systems
Processes
Defined activities at 
all giving levels and 
stages
Technology
Donor CRM and 
other tools
Culture
Data-driven and 
donor-centered 
strategies and 
decision making

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FUNDING MODELS
How museums raise money
# of gifts
Gift Range
Total value of gifts at this amount
Tier I
1
$20,000,000 or more
$ 20,000,000
2
$10,000,000 to $19,999,999
$ 20,000,000
3
$5,000,000 to $9,999,999
$ 15,000,000
6
$ 55,000,000
Tier II
6
$2,500,000 to $4,999,999
$ 15,000,000
10
$1,000,000 to $2,499,999
$ 10,000,000
18
$500,000 to $999,999
$ 9,000,000
34
$ 34,000,000
Tier III
22
$250,000 to $499,999
$ 5,500,000
34
$100,000 to $249,999
$ 3,400,000
42
$50,000 to $99,999
$ 2,100,000
98
$ 11,000,000
TOTAL
many @ less than $50,000 to ensure success
138
$ 100,000,000
The path to 100 Million

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Before
After
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Case Study: Natural History Museum of Utah
Utah's Natural History Museum’s move to a new 
purpose-built facility tripled attendance and  
transformed it from a modest regional institution 
into a top Mountain West attraction.
Project Facts
●
Hybrid partnership structure 
(University/State/Private)
●
Originally located in a space-constrained 
university building not built for purpose
●
 163k sq ft new building, completed 2011
●
$196M total project investment, roughly 
$1,205 per Sq Ft (adjusted to 2026)
●
Capital sources: 57% public | 43% private 
●
Annual attendance growth: 
80K  →  290K | 3.5x sustained increase
Sources: NHMU.UTAH.EDU; US Allegion

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Current Building
Future Building
RETURN ON INVESTMENT & IMPACT
Case Study: Milwaukee Public Museum
Milwaukee Public Museum is relocating from its 
historic Westown site to the higher-traffic 
Haymarket district and rebranding as the Nature 
and Culture Museum of Wisconsin, leveraging a 
more active downtown location while claiming 
the funding and prestige of becoming the state's 
flagship natural history museum.
Project Facts
●
Hybrid partnership structure (County/State/Private)
●
 200k sq ft new building, opens in 2027
●
$255M total project investment, roughly $1,275 per Sq 
Ft (adjusted to 2026)
●
Capital sources: 35% public | 65% private 
●
New build located and built with market in mind, 
adding event spaces, amenities, and experience 
options fit for its opportunity
●
Collection space moved off-site to maximize 
investment in visitor-focused areas of new building
Future Rooftop Exhibit / Event Space
Existing Site Activation
Sources: MPM.edu

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
FUNDING MODELS
The case for a world-class natural history 
museum in Mesa is not just about 
paleontology or economic impact.
It is a question of what kind of city Mesa wants to be — and 
what kind of opportunity to create for the half-million people 
who live here and millions more who pass through. 
This will be a museum that tells the 4.5 billion-year story of the 
land under our feet that trains teachers, employs scientists, 
sparks careers, generates private and public revenue, and gives 
every child in the East Valley a reason to wonder about the world 
they inherited. This institution is worth far more than any 
economic multiplier alone can capture.

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
Next Steps
NEXT STEPS

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2026
●Conduct Economic Impact Study (G&A)
●Principal Advisory Services (G&A)
○Developer partnerships, research partnerships, 
project governance,  identify hospitality/retail 
partners, public-private partnership coordination, 
sponsorship recruitment, and related activities in 
advancing the project 
●Experience and Storytelling Development (G&A)
○Content Development + Community Engagement 
○Develop Content and Acquisition Collection Plan 
○Experience Visualizations Representing Content 
Development efforts
NEXT STEPS
●Fundraising Capacity Building (Benefactor Group)
○Develop fundraising strategy and plan, identify top 
prospects and conduct donor discovery, strengthen 
development capacity, draft comprehensive case 
for support       
●Fundraising Campaign Preparation (Benefactor Group)
○Continue to build prospect lists, recruit voluntary 
leadership, develop fundraising collateral, engage 
early donors (possible seed-stage gifts) 
●Architecture & Site Design Work (Jones Studio)
○Program Validation & Development
○Conceptual Bridging Design & Documentation
○Conceptual Engineering Validation & Documentation
○Conceptual Cost Estimating
Continued Progress Across The Next 2 Years

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AZMNH | Mesa City Council Presentation | May 7, 2025
Thank you