The Discovery Museums Break Ground on Accessible Nature Playscape and Announce Three-Phase Plan for Growth
ACTON, MA – On October 24th, The Discovery Museums broke ground on a $1.5M project to develop a fully-inclusive nature playscape for children and families called Discovery Woods, and announced the leadership phase of a campaign to unify and expand its building facilities. Discovery Woods is expected to open in summer 2016 and the building expansion project to commence in early 2017 pending available funding. Fundraising for a third phase of construction to create an outdoor amphitheater and creative play exhibits is also planned. The Discovery Museums are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The groundbreaking marks a milestone toward completing the first two phases of the museums’ 2012 Campus Master Plan, which includes a complete renovation of the museums’ outdoor spaces and expansion of indoor facilities to increase exhibit space and visitor amenities. Leadership donors have thus far committed $6M toward the project, motivated in part by a transformational $3M challenge grant from The Manton Foundation. Broad public outreach requesting support from the entire museum community is expected to begin in late 2016.
“We are thrilled and humbled by the incredible level of support from our community and beyond that has brought us to this exciting milestone,” said Board of Directors Chair Bill Ryan. “Building Discovery Woods is a tremendous step forward in the advancement of our mission to get more kids outside to reap the many fundamental benefits of outdoor play.”
Discovery Woods, designed by Concord architects Lemon-Brooke with general contracting by JM Coull, Inc. of Maynard, will feature fun, interactive experiences to introduce families to the wonders of nature and the often-forgotten benefits of unstructured outdoor play. The central feature will be an accessible tree house and learning center designed by The Treehouse Guys of Warren, VT. Those with mobility, developmental, or behavioral differences will find elements of adventure and discovery alongside other visitors, as thoughtful accommodations in the design of the site and exhibits will be integrated inclusively. The environment will support risk-taking by all children, as they learn that whether on the ground or in the treetops, the natural environment can be both safe and exciting.
Phase II of the project is an expansion of the 28-year-old Science Discovery Museum, which has had no significant capital investment since its opening. The expansion is being designed by architects Cambridge Seven Associates with general contracting by JM Coull, Inc. The project will double the overall size of the building, bring all of the museums’ exhibits under one roof, add brand new learning experiences for families, and provide modern visitor amenities. New permanent exhibits will include “Brain Building Zone,” a signature early-learning gallery based on the latest brain development research, designed for children ages zero to three and their parents; and “Da Vinci’s Workshop,” celebrating invention, art, creativity, and the process of scientific inquiry.
“We are expanding our capacity to serve families while creating an even richer learning environment for children and the adults in their lives,” said CEO Neil Gordon. “The completed building will better enable us to deliver to our visitors experiences based on the integration and intersection of art, science, invention, math, and engineering. It will provide more and better educational spaces for workshops, teacher professional development, and high-quality traveling exhibits. Perhaps most importantly, it will eliminate the frequent wait lists to get into the museum, and with full ADA compliance will enable us to welcome and serve all visitors well.”
The groundbreaking event on October 24 included donors to The Campaign for The Discovery Museums, supporters of the museums, and state and local officials.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, grant number MA-1-13-0506-13.
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About The Discovery Museums
The Discovery Museums are the children’s and science museums of Metrowest Boston. Two great museums—for one admission price—blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus in Acton, MA, located about 20 miles west of Boston. The Museums serve families and schools from towns throughout the region, with a commitment to informal education that enhances classroom learning. The hands-on, playful exhibits, developed by professional educators, inspire curiosity, exploration, experimentation, and imagination. The Discovery Museums combine manageable scale, convenient location and free parking to provide a fun and engaging experience where children and adults can discover their world together. The Discovery Museum are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information please visit www.discoverymuseums.org.
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