Kohl Children's Museum

Award of Merit: Cultural/Performing Arts

The mission of Kohl Children's Museum is to create exemplary, developmentally appropriate, hands-on educational experiences for children in a fun environment.

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The foremost design goal was to embody the museum's mission as a hands-on learning laboratory for children ages birth to 8 years old.

Rather than showcasing exhibits, the building and landscape serve as exhibits themselves with architecturally integrated outdoor spaces, interior architecture that melds seamlessly with interactive exhibits and sustainable design features that are also used as learning tools.

Going Outdoors

Satisfying the museum's long-standing desire to delivery educational experiences beyond the museum walls, integrated outdoor features allow children to experience nature authentically without leaving the grounds.

For example, a floating, sculptural, metal roof does more than the eye-its folded plan collects rainwater in its "valley," offering visitors the experience of a rainfall in a rainstorm. Habitat Park is a fenced-in, two-acre space with children's garden, winding paths, rolling berms and tactile sculptures, and it allows children to explore and discover the outdoor environment.

Throughout the museum interior, visual interest mingles with child-focused functionality.

Varying ceiling heights are balanced with elements that provide a feeling of safety and containment for the children, such as low walls and an intimate lighting scheme. The vaulted ceiling heights also allow for dynamic exhibit features, such as a life-size tree in the nature area. A playful indoor/outdoor connection is inspired by large, high-performance glass windows and clerestory windows that flood exhibit space with natural light.

An additional feature is improved accessibility. This includes the connection of all entrances to the parking lot, separate entrances for large groups of schoolchildren on field trips and the integration of universal design elements to accommodate children of all abilities.

Jury Comments: "The project has a lot going for it. They have a lot of exhibits and elements to keep kids' interest. It fits in well with the rest of the Glen Town Center area."

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