Our partnership with the Children's Museum began in 2006 when we began to create ideas for a new museum located on Millennium Park's north edge. Respecting Burnham's statement, "forever open clear and free," regarding development in the park, CCM chose to explore solutions that respected the park's use and access.
“When we were designing the new building, we really wanted the exhibits and architecture to move in lock-step — not to design the architecture than the exhibits — a mutual design between architecture and the exhibit.
You were always partners in thinking about this and listening to the exhibit designers and always thinking about design in a holistic way.”
Amy Spar, Associate Vice President, Museum Planning, Chicago Children's Museum
The proposed solution created a transition between upper Randolph street and the park below. It was composed of landscaped rooftop ramps that allowed for a universally accessible, graceful entry into the park. Weaving the architecture with the landscape, while taking advantage of the south-facing exposure, the museum opened to the daylight and park.
The City and Park District endorsed the concept of integrating CCM into the park, however in the final analysis, CCM decided to remain in their current location, and in 2018 K+S completed the reimagined museum at Navy Pier.
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