Leaf House Scientific

Exhibitry

We develop living invertebrate exhibits from first sketch to long-term care.

Our exhibitry combines biological expertise, design, and specialty fabrication to create living systems of unusual beauty, durability, and biological integrity. Exhibit projects can also be supported by our wrangling and media practices when live colony sourcing or custom visual content is required.

Our Process

1Concept & Exhibit Design

We define each exhibit’s biological, spatial, and interpretive goals before design begins, assessing species suitability and feasibility, then translating the vision into spatial plans and renderings.

2Habitat Design

We design the living system itself: containment, ventilation, humidity, lighting, and keeper access, all shaped around the colony and key behaviors that sustain life on display for many years.

3Fabrication & Prototyping

Exhibit-grade fabrication built to survive public use—custom nesting orbs, armatures, barriers, and queen excluders, prototyped and tested by our invertebrate collaborators before they ever go on display.

4Installation & Testing

Final fit-up, systems testing, and live colony integration. We tune the environment and troubleshoot through opening, so the exhibit performs from day one.

5Ongoing Care

After launch we remain available for husbandry refinement, staff guidance, performance troubleshooting, and the adaptations a living exhibit needs over the years.

Concept for leafcutter interactive

Spotlight: Leafcutter Ant Permanent Exhibit

2018-Present

“The Centerpiece of the Insectarium”

Installed in the Gilder Center Insectarium, this permanent exhibit offers visitors a rare view into the living relationship between leafcutter ants and their fungal symbionts.

Development stages of the leafcutter exhibit at AMNH