The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
2009 Monumental Affair Award Winner - Honor Award for Landscape Architecture
 The Children's Museum of Indianapolis |
 New Interactive Plaza |
 Hardscape space was reduced by 30% |
 Seven Wonders Sculpture Garden |
 Rain Garden |
 The Children's Museum |
The nation’s largest Children’s Museum hosts more than one million visitors a year. This Phase II Intermodal Facility Project addresses the Museum’s corporate goals and mission including the creation of a new Welcome Center and plaza space that focuses on ease of access, safety, and leaving a positive environmental impact. Synthesis served as the Landscape Architects of Record and designed a new entrance plaza which includes many educational and interactive features.
Analyzing pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns, Synthesis designed a space that provides universal accessibility and allows each visitor the same experience whether with a school or tour group, family, in strollers or with limited mobility. Careful consideration was given to the building’s existing architecture, as well as the new addition of the Welcome Center.
Rain/stormwater collection was a large focus of the plaza design. The plaza includes the City’s most visible rain garden, which provides environmental, economic and educational benefits to the community. The garden captures and filters stormwater reducing the need for costly infrastructure while recharging the watertable. The rain garden keeps a significant amount of stormwater out of the City’s combined sewer system by collecting runoff from the roof, plaza space and surrounding areas. Replacing pavement with greenspace throughout the plaza and adjacent parking lots reduced impervious hardscape surfaces by nearly 30%. Another key feature is the Seven Wonders sculpture garden adding to the educational and play experiences for children of all ages.
Overall the design focused on color, textures, and sensory elements that provide interactive educational and play experiences for children of all ages visiting the Museum.
