CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA
Portsmouth, VA
In 2009, SKOLNICK collaborated with the Children’s Museum of Virginia to design 30,000 sf of new interactive exhibits that supported the museum’s mission to encourage imagination, questioning, and a lifelong love of learning in children. Ten years later, the museum invited SKOLNICK back to reimagine and upgrade the exhibits to address a shift in the age demographics of their visitors and the growing importance of STE(A)M learning. Together, we analyzed the existing exhibits and developed a system for determining what needed to be refurbished, replaced, and renovated to best meet the needs of CMVA’s young visitors and achieve the museum’s goals for the future.
Services
Concept Design
Exhibit Design
Size
30,000 sf
WELCOME TO PORTSMOUTH!
The museum’s first floor welcomes young children into a kid-size town of Portsmouth that encourages pretend play. Colorful storefronts form a streetscape of shops including a market, bank, animal shelter, gym, music store, and fire station. Nearby, the “Port” features hands-on gantry cranes to operate, magnetic fish to catch, and a big tugboat to drive.
FULL STE(A)M AHEAD
Upstairs, the second floor exhibits prompt children to investigate science and make art. Dr. Forces’ Traveling Energy Extravaganza introduces the physical sciences to children through hands-on interactives in a lively carnival environment. CreARTivity breaks down the basics of color, line, form, shape, and texture and encourages children to create their own masterpieces.
“To say the product is spectacular is an understatement. SKOLNICK’s interface with the architect, lighting designer, contractor, and fabricator helped to ensure that the design intent was never compromised…SKOLNICK has gone the extra mile to make renovation and expansion of the Children’s Museum a reality that everyone will be talking about for a long time.
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