Kohl Children’s Museum

Opportunity: With a mission to provide a safe place for children to creatively guide their own learning experiences, the Museum sought a new home that would allow them to expand programming and better accommodate their growing audiences.

Solution:  Sitting in native prairie grasses, the new building surrounds a south-facing, garden courtyard that connects to an outdoor exhibit area. The simple, open plan offers a flexible interior for changing exhibits, while the sloping roof shapes and clerestory windows bring in natural light to enhance exhibits.

Value:  Sustainable concepts are integrated into the building and site design as well as the Museum’s educational programming, resulting in the country’s first LEED Silver certification for a new children’s museum. The Museum’s strategic site location and sculptural form create a landmark for the surrounding community.