DuPage County reviews Taylor Studios plan to replace Heritage Gallery; public urges broader representation and cautious budget approach

DuPage County Public Works Committee convened March 4 to review schematic designs and public feedback for a planned replacement of the county’s Heritage Gallery, a project led by county facilities management and the exhibit firm Taylor Studios. The committee also approved a procedural motion allowing members to participate remotely.

The schematic presentation laid out a timeline-driven gallery composed of paired kiosks, interior “deep dive” panels and two digital screens. Pete Salmon, Taylor Studios’ content lead, said, “Schematic design is the first stage of a 3 stage design exhibit,” and described schematic deliverables as an outline of content plus rough sketches to guide budgeting and early feedback. Emma Brutman, exhibit designer, described the layout: “The primary feature of this exhibit is a large timeline of all of county history,” with kiosk exteriors serving as timeline markers and interior panels providing focused stories.

Why it matters: the gallery sits in a high-traffic county facility and has not been updated in decades; staff and designers said the aim is to provide an accessible overview that can prompt visitors to seek fuller exhibits at the DuPage County Historical Museum. Jeff Madison, facilities…