The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN

Capturing the Imagination

Located at 30th and Meridian streets, The Children’s Museum is a local favorite and a national leader. The world’s largest, it attracted 1.3 million visitors in 2019 alone. This popularity isn’t happenstance. Museum leaders are continually creating new experiences for kids and their families. Entertaining, interactive, hands-on exhibits are designed around the museum’s expansive artifact collection.

Client
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Size
Various
Completed
2003-2018

As its name implies, the museum is for children, first and foremost. But it’s also for parents and grandparents. They must feel safe, seen, and served. The museum is for visitors, but it’s also a community asset. A good neighbor, it is devoted to serving all families, in particular those who live nearby. The museum’s approach to community planning reflects this commitment.

Since 2003, we have partnered with The Children’s Museum on more than a dozen projects, including: the Dinosphere® gallery, the Museum Welcome Center, Schaefer Planetarium and Space Object Theater, Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience, and facilities master plans. Collectively, these endeavors have increased visitation dramatically, boosting attendance 51% from 2000 to 2019.*

We’ve embraced the opportunity to help the museum fulfill its promises to the community, to kids, to families. Together, we consistently create timeless yet fun environments with whimsical touches. They push us to stretch our thinking, innovate, and elevate our creativity to match what they’re trying to achieve as an organization. This ever-changing institution is a designer’s dream.

*Source: Indianapolis Star, Feb. 7, 2020

Dynamic Dinos

Dinosaurs break out of the Dinosphere® gallery, an immersive archaeological lab and display of the actual bones of teenage dinosaurs from the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods.

 

Brilliant Glass

Comprised of more than 3,200 individually blown glass pieces, Fireworks of Glass by Dale Chihuly creates a colorful focal point, towering within the five-story central core ramp of the museum.

“We’re always changing.”

Jeff Patchen, Previous President and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

A New Gateway

The three-level Welcome Center serves as a new gateway into the museum and connects directly to the existing parking deck through an overhead bridge. The dinos breaking into the welcome center complete a circular theme with their buddies breaking out of the Dinosphere.

Planetary Theater

As the focal point of a new exhibit called “Beyond Spaceship Earth,” the campus’ existing planetarium has been redesigned into an immersive, ultramodern theater experience. A new exterior metal skin completes the design of the Schaefer Planetarium and Space Object Theater with whimsical, decorative “space station” features.

Outdoor Activation

The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is the first outdoor space at the museum. Kids can run, jump, and play. The experience has expanded the museum’s appeal, creating a great reason to visit on sunny days and an attraction for older kids.