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BMW Welt
Boston Children's Museum Expansion and Renovation
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A colorful geometric armature opens up a warehouse to children and families.
Designed by Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc. , the Boston Children’s Museum expansion and renovation transforms an existing 19th century brick warehouse into a colorful geometric structure that embraces its dramatic waterfront site.
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The 23,000-square-foot metal-and-glass addition was conceived as a straightforward armature connected to the existing building on three levels via lightweight bridges running the length of a glass spine. The addition’s transparency reveals programs previously hidden behind a heavy brick façade and provides for a new connection between indoor and outdoor activities.
New circulation concentrates activity in the lower three floors of the museum. Giant overhead hangar-type glass doors open onto the lobby, creating a flow of interior and exterior spaces, while a climbing structure and various paths through the building create a sense of discovery in contrast to the more defined spaces and existing bays of the old warehouse. The “new” warehouse provides a richer, more diverse visitor experience, say the architects.
The project is pursuing LEED Gold certification, and would be the first LEED certified museum in Boston. Sustainable design elements include a stormwater reclamation system and an extensive vegetative roof that reduces pollution and the urban heat island effect. In addition, the building itself will serve as an exhibit, explaining the importance of green design to children and families.
Formal name of project: Boston Children’s Museum Expansion and Renovation
Owner:
Boston Children’s Museum
www.bostonkids.org
Architect:
Architect: Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.
www.c7a.com
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